City Comparison
Mishawaka vs Hammond
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Mishawaka scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Mishawaka
Hammond
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Mishawaka is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
9% lower than in Hammond.
Housing costs are a major driver: Mishawaka's average rent is
16% lower than Hammond's.
| Metric | Mishawaka | Hammond | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,050 | $1,250 | -16% |
| Groceries | $390 | $380 | +3% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $115 | $110 | +5% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $230 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $1,960 | $2,145 | -9% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 88 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Hammond offers 3% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Hammond delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Mishawaka is estimated at
$48,000 vs $48,000 in Hammond.
| Metric | Mishawaka | Hammond |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $56,000 | $58,000 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 60,870 idx | 65,909 idx |
| Household Income | $54,291 | $54,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.6°F of each other.
For sunshine, Hammond comes out ahead with 20 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Mishawaka sees 12.7 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Mishawaka | Hammond |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.90°F | 51.50°F |
| Summer High | 81.60°F | 81.80°F |
| Winter Low | 18.80°F | 18.50°F |
| Rainfall | 37.20 in | 33.50 in |
| Snowfall | 40.90 in | 28.20 in |
| Sunny Days | 240 | 260 |
| Humidity | 70.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Mishawaka has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Hammond.
Hammond scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Hammond leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Mishawaka | Hammond |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 21 min | 27 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 52.0/100 |
| Walkability | 53.0/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 41.00 | 42.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Hammond is the larger city
— approximately 0.7x the population of Mishawaka.
From a growth perspective, Mishawaka is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Mishawaka has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Mishawaka | Hammond |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 51,021 | 77,879 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.27% | — |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 36.5 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 4.50% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
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.
Hammond
Advantages
Significantly lower housing and cost of living compared to nearby Chicago
Excellent commuter rail access via the South Shore Line
Abundant recreational opportunities at Wolf Lake and Hammond Marina
Presence of Purdue University Northwest fostering educational and cultural vitality
Strategic location with robust highway and freight logistics infrastructure
Drawbacks
Property tax rates can fluctuate based on local municipal and school district bonds
Certain commercial corridors experience higher property vacancy rates requiring ongoing revitalization
Winters can be harsh with significant snowfall driven by lake-effect weather patterns
Industrial legacy requires continuous environmental monitoring and remediation efforts
Average household incomes trail the broader national metropolitan average
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
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
Hammond
#401Indiana, USA
58.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,250
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
52.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
260/yr
Avg Temp
51.50°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
70
Business
65
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Mishawaka and Hammond.
Open Cost Calculator