South Bend-Mishawaka Lebanon

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from South Bend-Mishawaka to Lebanon is less favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 92.9 to 93.2 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $119/mo.

-$1,607
BLS median salary lower in Lebanon
308 to 250
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
15.9:1 to 13.6:1
NCES student-teacher ratio

BEA Regional Price Parity, HUD Fair Market Rent, BLS OEWS, FBI UCR, NCES, and DOL. The table below lets you override the composite with your own priorities.

Verdict
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 92.9 → 93.2
Rent Delta: +$119/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + Better student-teacher ratios

Cons of Moving

  • - $119/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power stays near-even: BEA RPP moves only from 92.9 to 93.2 (ratio 1.00), inside a ±5% band. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent rises $119/mo ($1,428/yr) from $1,292 in South Bend-Mishawaka to $1,411 in Lebanon.

The seven-dimension ledger splits (2 destination wins · 4 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Lebanon sits #219 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). South Bend-Mishawaka is #215/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Less Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $1,607 lower ($62,165 → $60,558). Labor-market size: 125,610 tracked jobs at origin vs 46,280 at destination.

State retirement friendliness is near-even: Indiana 62 (C, #24/51) vs Pennsylvania 65 (C, #18/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
South Bend-Mishawaka
Lebanon
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 92.9
RPP 93.2
South Bend-Mishawaka
Rent (2BR)
$1,292/mo
$1,411/mo
South Bend-Mishawaka
Wages
$62,165
$60,558
South Bend-Mishawaka
Crime
308 per 100K
250 per 100K
Lebanon
Schools
15.9:1
13.6:1
Lebanon
Childcare
N/A
N/A
Tie
Environment
1514 violations
5292 violations
South Bend-Mishawaka

State retirement friendliness

Primary-state scores from PlainRelocate's retirement registry (tax + healthcare + climate composite). Metro pairs use each metro's primary state abbreviation.

Origin state · Indiana
62 C #24/51
Income tax
72
Property tax
69
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
32
Destination state · Pennsylvania
65 C #18/51
Income tax
95
Property tax
58
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
72

Full retirement ranking · Source composite documented on methodology (Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides + federal healthcare/climate inputs).

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in South Bend-Mishawaka to see what you'd need to earn in Lebanon to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Lebanon
-

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA; retirement desk: Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides June 2026