South Bend, Indiana
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching South Bend, IN.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in South Bend, IN?
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 1331.1 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- 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
- 4.1%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 20 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 1331.1per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 81°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how South Bend compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (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
- 103,713City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $52,512Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year33% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 58ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year42% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $124,500City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year59% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,000City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year26% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.1%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026Near U.S. rate (4.2%)U.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 20 min20% below catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 4011% below catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 1331.1per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)138% above catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 4214.1per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)40% above catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 81°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals6.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 20°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals15.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 39.2 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals18% above catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 218As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals19% below catalog avgCatalog avg 268
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). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is South Bend, IN 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, IN?
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, IN?
County unemployment recently ran 4.1% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in South Bend is about $52,512 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.1% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $52,512
How long is the typical commute in South Bend, IN?
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, IN safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 1331.1 per 100k and property about 4214.1 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 1331.1 per 100k
- Property 4214.1 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in South Bend, IN?
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
South Bend (pop. 103,713) 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 figures, 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 4.1%, broadly in line with many large U.S. counties. FBI CIUS Table 8 violent-offense rates run comparatively high (~1331.1 per 100k), so block-by-block due diligence is especially important.
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) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · St. Joseph County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00014848 SOUTH BEND MICHIANA RGNL AP) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19