City Comparison
Mishawaka vs Noblesville
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Noblesville scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Mishawaka
Noblesville
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Mishawaka is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
22% lower than in Noblesville.
Housing costs are a major driver: Mishawaka's average rent is
32% lower than Noblesville's.
| Metric | Mishawaka | Noblesville | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,050 | $1,550 | -32% |
| Groceries | $390 | $420 | -7% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $115 | $115 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $240 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $1,960 | $2,500 | -22% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 98 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Noblesville offers 21% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Noblesville delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Mishawaka is estimated at
$48,000 vs $58,000 in Noblesville.
| Metric | Mishawaka | Noblesville |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $56,000 | $71,000 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 60,870 idx | 72,449 idx |
| Household Income | $54,291 | $94,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 2.3°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Mishawaka sees 21.7 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Mishawaka | Noblesville |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.90°F | 53.20°F |
| Summer High | 81.60°F | 83.30°F |
| Winter Low | 18.80°F | 20.00°F |
| Rainfall | 37.20 in | 35.30 in |
| Snowfall | 40.90 in | 19.20 in |
| Sunny Days | 240 | 241 |
| Humidity | 70.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Mishawaka has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,500 minutes (58 hours) per year compared to Noblesville.
Mishawaka scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Mishawaka leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Mishawaka | Noblesville |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 21 min | 28 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 53.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 41.00 | 48.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Noblesville is the larger city
— approximately 0.7x the population of Mishawaka.
From a growth perspective, Noblesville is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Noblesville has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Mishawaka | Noblesville |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 51,021 | 71,000 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.27% | 2.30% |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 37.2 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 3.20% |
| 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.
Noblesville
Advantages
Consistently ranked among the safest cities in Indiana with low violent crime rates per census.gov data.
Top-rated public school district attracting families from across the Indianapolis metropolitan region.
Extensive outdoor recreation options including Morse Reservoir and Forest Park.
Vibrant and historic downtown square featuring local dining, boutiques, and community events.
Strong local job market backed by advanced manufacturing and healthcare employers.
Drawbacks
Higher housing costs and property taxes relative to the rest of Indiana.
High automobile dependency with limited public transit infrastructure within the city limits.
Increasing traffic congestion along major commuter corridors during peak travel hours.
Winter weather brings sustained cold temperatures and measurable snowfall requiring careful transit planning.
Limited rental housing inventory relative to surging population growth.
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
Noblesville
#20Indiana, USA
73.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,550
Avg Salary
$71,000
Cost Index
98
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
42.0/100
Sunny Days
241/yr
Avg Temp
53.20°F
Pop. Growth
2.30%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
81
Business
75
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Mishawaka and Noblesville.
Open Cost Calculator