Elkhart vs Mishawaka
Elkhart, Indiana versus Mishawaka, Indiana: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Elkhart and Mishawaka score about the same overall (49 vs 48 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Elkhart | Mishawaka |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $47k | $52k |
| Cost of Living | $45k | $42k |
| Home Value | $119k | $128k |
| Monthly Rent | $896 | $979 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $984 | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.93% | 0.99% |
| Income Tax | 5.20% | 5.20% |
| Sales Tax | 7.00% | 7.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.88% | 9.98% |
| Unemployment | 3.9% | 6.9% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 25°F | 25°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 72°F | 72°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2 in | 40.9 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.9 in | 49.9 in |
| Sunny Days | 208 days | 208 days |
| Summer Humidity | 62°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 96 days | 97 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 46.2 | 26.9 |
| Air Quality | 49 AQI | 50 AQI |
| School Quality | 52.3 | 35.3 |
| Violent Crime | 2595/100k | 1556/100k |
| Property Crime | 2990/100k | 2885/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 53,785 | 50,899 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.50 | 0.35 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.91 | 1.03 |
| Political Leaning | R+29 | Even |
| White (%) | 57.0% | 77.0% |
| Black (%) | 12.0% | 7.9% |
| Hispanic (%) | 26.2% | 6.2% |
| Asian (%) | 0.7% | 2.5% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.0% | 6.3% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 18 min | 22 min |
| Walkability | 8.8/20 | 9.1/20 |
| Airport Distance | 85 mi | 83 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 86.4% | 85.0% |
| Amenities Nearby | 17.85 | 56.58 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Elkhart or Mishawaka more affordable?
- Mishawaka has the lower cost of living: its index is $42k, compared with Elkhart's $45k and Mishawaka's $42k. Median rent is $896 in Elkhart versus $979 in Mishawaka.
- Is Elkhart or Mishawaka safer?
- Mishawaka has the lower violent crime rate. Elkhart reports 2595/100k and Mishawaka reports 1556/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Elkhart or Mishawaka?
- The median home value is $119k in Elkhart and $128k in Mishawaka, so homes are more affordable in Elkhart.