City Comparison
Fishers vs Mishawaka
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Fishers scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Fishers
Mishawaka
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Mishawaka is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
25% lower than in Fishers.
Housing costs are a major driver: Fishers's average rent is
57% higher than Mishawaka's.
| Metric | Fishers | Mishawaka | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,650 | $1,050 | +57% |
| Groceries | $420 | $390 | +8% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $130 | $115 | +13% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $230 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,605 | $1,960 | +33% |
| Cost Index | 108 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Fishers offers 39% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Fishers delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Fishers is estimated at
$62,000 vs $48,000 in Mishawaka.
| Metric | Fishers | Mishawaka |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $78,000 | $56,000 |
| Salary Needed | $62,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 72,222 idx | 60,870 idx |
| Household Income | $115,000 | $54,291 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 2.7°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Mishawaka sees 21.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Fishers | Mishawaka |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.60°F | 50.90°F |
| Summer High | 83.80°F | 81.60°F |
| Winter Low | 20.50°F | 18.80°F |
| Rainfall | 38.40 in | 37.20 in |
| Snowfall | 19.80 in | 40.90 in |
| Sunny Days | 237 | 240 |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Mishawaka has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Fishers.
For walkability, Mishawaka leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Fishers | Mishawaka |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 27 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 53.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | 41.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Fishers is the larger city
— approximately 2.1x the population of Mishawaka.
From a growth perspective, Fishers is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Fishers has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Fishers | Mishawaka |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 104,909 | 51,021 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.50% | 0.27% |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 36.0 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 4.10% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Fishers
Advantages
Consistently ranked among the safest cities in Indiana with exceptionally low crime rates per FBI reporting.
Hamilton Southeastern Schools and other local districts are top-rated statewide for academic performance.
Thriving technology and entrepreneurial ecosystem supported by the Indiana IoT Lab and local business incubators.
Extensive parks and recreation infrastructure, including the Nickel Plate Trail and Geist Reservoir access.
Vibrant downtown Nickel Plate District featuring dining, shopping, and regular community events.
Drawbacks
Housing costs and overall cost of living sit noticeably above the Indiana state average.
High degree of car dependency for daily commuting and errands outside of the central district.
Increasing traffic congestion along major thoroughfares during peak morning and evening commute hours.
Property tax rates in Hamilton County reflect high local service funding but add to homeownership costs.
Limited traditional public mass transit options connecting directly to broader regional employment hubs.
Mishawaka
Advantages
Median home prices and overall living costs remain significantly more affordable than the national average.
Extensive outdoor recreation is available via the scenic Riverwalk trail system along the St. Joseph River.
Proximity to the University of Notre Dame provides easy access to major collegiate sports, arts, and cultural events.
Strategic Midwestern location offers rapid highway access to Chicago, Indianapolis, and the Michigan border.
Comprehensive local healthcare infrastructure is anchored by the modern Franciscan Health Mishawaka facility.
Drawbacks
Winters feature heavy lake-effect snowfall, requiring active municipal snow removal and winter driving preparedness.
Public transit options are limited outside of main bus routes, resulting in high car dependency for daily commutes.
Local median household income trails state and national benchmarks, constraining broader wage growth.
Poverty rates in select older urban residential pockets slightly exceed national averages.
Retail-heavy corridors like Grape Road experience notable traffic congestion during peak holiday and weekend shopping hours.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Fishers
#40Indiana, USA
71.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,650
Avg Salary
$78,000
Cost Index
108
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
237/yr
Avg Temp
53.60°F
Pop. Growth
1.50%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
88
Business
80
Mishawaka
#305Indiana, USA
61.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,050
Avg Salary
$56,000
Cost Index
92
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
53.0/100
Sunny Days
240/yr
Avg Temp
50.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.27%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
75
Business
70
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