South Bend-Mishawaka Lewiston

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from South Bend-Mishawaka to Lewiston is less favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 92.9 to 91.2 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent falls by $72/mo.

-$2,899
BLS median salary lower in Lewiston
308 to 235
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
15.9:1 to 17.1:1
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 → 91.2
Rent Delta: -$72/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $72/mo cheaper rent (2BR)
  • + Lower violent crime rate

Cons of Moving

  • - $3K lower median salary
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power stays near-even: BEA RPP moves only from 92.9 to 91.2 (ratio 0.98), inside a ±5% band. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent drops $72/mo ($864/yr) from $1,292 in South Bend-Mishawaka to $1,220 in Lewiston.

The seven-dimension ledger splits (3 destination wins · 3 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Lewiston sits #135 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 $2,899 lower ($62,165 → $59,266). Labor-market size: 125,610 tracked jobs at origin vs 22,910 at destination.

State retirement friendliness is near-even: Indiana 62 (C, #24/51) vs Idaho 58 (D, #30/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
South Bend-Mishawaka
Lewiston
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 92.9
RPP 91.2
Lewiston
Rent (2BR)
$1,292/mo
$1,220/mo
Lewiston
Wages
$62,165
$59,266
South Bend-Mishawaka
Crime
308 per 100K
235 per 100K
Lewiston
Schools
15.9:1
17.1:1
South Bend-Mishawaka
Childcare
N/A
$7,315/yr
Tie
Environment
1514 violations
2331 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 · Idaho
58 D #30/51
Income tax
70
Property tax
76
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
24

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 Lewiston to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Lewiston
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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