01 · the cities
South Bend
South Bend is Notre Dame, the Golden Dome, and the Touchdown Jesus mural visible from the football stadium. The St. Joseph River runs through downtown, and the East Bank district has the food and bar scene. The University of Notre Dame campus is genuinely beautiful (the basilica, the lakes, the grottos). Smaller than its national reputation suggests, with a steady college-town pulse.
full dispatch→Lincoln
Lincoln is the Nebraska state capital, home to the University of Nebraska, and on home-game Saturdays Memorial Stadium fills with over 85,000 fans (briefly making it the third-largest city in Nebraska). The state capitol is a striking 400-foot Art Deco tower visible from miles away. The Haymarket district downtown has the food and bar scene. Friendly, affordable, and prettier than its prairie reputation suggests.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,391/mo
$1,311/mo
$80/mo less than South Bend (6%)
Median home price
Median home price
$230k
$302k
$72k more than South Bend
State income tax
State income tax
3.0%
5.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,692/mo
$6,536/mo
South Bend has $156/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
157 days
152 days
5 fewer than South Bend
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
13 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
40 days
48 days
days below 20°F per year
Lincoln has 13 more days above 95°F each year than South Bend. Lincoln drops below 20°F on 8 more days per year than South Bend.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
53 / 100
53 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
9 routes
3 routes
6 fewer direct routes than South Bend
Metro size
Metro size
324k metro
344k metro
South Bend has 1.5x fewer events per month than Lincoln.
the verdict
7
South Bend
categories won
1
Lincoln
categories won
South Bend wins this comparison, leading on money and weather.
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