South Bend, Indiana
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching South Bend.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in South Bend?
South Bend, IN has a MapsToIt housing cost index of 58 (among the more affordable large markets in this catalog; 100 = U.S. avg). Median home value is about $124,500 and median rent about $1,000, against national ACS medians of $303,400 and $1,348. Median household income is roughly $52,512. Typical commute is 20 minutes; summer highs average 81°F. Violent-offense rates run about 62 per 100k (catalog avg 602.7).
- Housing cost index
- 58U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $124,500U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,000U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $52,512U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.0%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 20 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 62per 100k · avg 602.7
- Summer high
- 81°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how South Bend compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 102,866City limits · not metro/MSA
- Median household income
- $52,512Incorporated place (ACS)33% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538
- Housing cost index
- 58ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)42% below U.S. avgU.S. 100
- Median home value
- $124,500City limits (ACS)59% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,000City limits (ACS)26% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348
- Unemployment
- 4.0%County LAUS · not city-onlyNear U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts
- Avg commute
- 20 min20% below U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 4011% below U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 62launch estimate, not FBI-verified yet
- Property crime rate
- 58launch estimate, not FBI-verified yet
- Summer high
- 81°F6.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 20°F14.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 39.2 in19% above U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 21819% below U.S. avgU.S. 269
Population trend
South Bend grew 2.5% from 101,197 in 2010 to 103,713 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024)
Is South Bend expensive compared to the U.S. average?
South Bend's housing cost index is 58 versus 100 nationally — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($124,500 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,000 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 58 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $124,500 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,000 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in South Bend?
Typical ownership costs center near $124,500, while median gross rent is about $1,000 a month. Against a median household income of $52,512, rent alone is roughly 23% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $124,500
- Median rent $1,000/month
- Median household income $52,512
What is the job market like in South Bend?
County unemployment recently ran 4.0% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in South Bend is about $52,512 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.0% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $52,512
How long is the typical commute in South Bend?
Average one-way commute time is about 20 minutes, with Walk Score near 40/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 20 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 40/100
Is South Bend safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 62 per 100k and property about 58 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 602.7 and 3084.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 62 per 100k
- Property 58 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in South Bend?
Normals show summer highs near 81°F, winter lows near 20°F, about 39.2 inches of rain, and roughly 218 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 81°F
- Winter low 20°F
- 39.2 in rain · 218 sunny days
Compare South Bend with another city
South Bend (pop. 102,866) sits in Indiana. Median household income is roughly $52,512, while the ACS housing-cost index sits near 58 — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog on housing costs (100 ≈ U.S. average). Entry home prices around $124,500 still look attainable compared with coastal metros.
South Bend is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare South Bend with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Midwest industrial corridors and flat farmland still set the cost baseline. Winter lows around 20°F mean heating costs and snow logistics belong on the checklist. Plan on roughly 20 minutes each way for a typical commute; Walk Score is about 40. Unemployment recently ran near 4.0%, broadly in line with many large U.S. counties. Crime figures here are a directional launch estimate pending a live FBI Crime Data Explorer pull — not yet a per-100k rate, so treat it as a rough signal rather than a citywide index.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (South Bend city, 1600000US1871000)
- BLS: BLS LAUS · St. Joseph County, June 2026
- Crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer (curated seed)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00014848 SOUTH BEND MICHIANA RGNL AP)
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024)
Last updated 2026-08-03