01 · the cities
Toledo
Toledo is the Glass City, with a long history of glassmaking (Owens-Illinois, Libbey, Pilkington), and the Toledo Museum of Art's glass pavilion is genuinely world-class and free. The Mud Hens (yes, Klinger's team) play minor league ball downtown. Sitting between Detroit and Cleveland on Lake Erie, Toledo has serious walleye fishing and a real lake-town pace. Cheaper than its bigger neighbors.
full dispatch→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→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,197/mo
$1,391/mo
$194/mo more than Toledo (14%)
Median home price
Median home price
$196k
$230k
$34k more than Toledo
State income tax
State income tax
4.0%
3.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,804/mo
$6,692/mo
Toledo has $112/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
159 days
157 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
38 days
40 days
days below 20°F per year
Toledo and South Bend have remarkably similar weather profiles overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
55 / 100
53 / 100
2.0 pts behind Toledo
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
4 routes
9 routes
5 more direct routes than Toledo
Metro size
Metro size
600k metro
324k metro
Toledo has 1.5x more events per month than South Bend.
the verdict
4
Toledo
categories won
2
South Bend
categories won
Toledo leads on money and wins overall.
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