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Living in
Mishawaka.
About
Life in Mishawaka
Mishawaka offers an affordable Midwest living experience with a median home value around $155,500 and median rent near $1,070 monthly—reasonable compared to many regions. The neighborhood character varies significantly: you'll find older, established areas alongside newer subdivisions with design guidelines meant to foster community feel, which actually delivers in some pockets. Schools are a mixed bag—the city is served by multiple districts (Mishawaka, Penn-Harris-Madison, and South Bend Community), so quality varies by zone, and it's worth researching specific neighborhoods.
Mishawaka at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.4%
Foreign-Born
7.0%
Broadband Internet
90.2%
of households
Population Growth
+0.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.0% foreign-born, most often from Other Eastern Africa
Who lives in Mishawaka: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Mishawaka, the largest foreign-born group is from Other Eastern Africa (22.7%), and 4.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.8%
of residents
65 and Older
16.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
43.4%
of households
Married Couples
33.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.18
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for IN
Rent, home values, and income in Mishawaka
In Mishawaka, home values are 29% below the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,405
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
49.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1975
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $213,314 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts above IN average
Unemployment in Mishawaka
Unemployment in Mishawaka is 0.5 percentage points higher than the IN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Mishawaka Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.1 min avg
How Mishawaka residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Mishawaka, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 74% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
South Bend International Airport (SBN)
Small hub552k passengers boarded in 2025
- 81 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 92 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 7% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Mishawaka runs 7% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
305.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,611.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Mishawaka Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
85.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
St. Joseph County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In St. Joseph County, which includes Mishawaka, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 8 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $272,000 |
| 2024 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $446,500 |
| 2023 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $125,500 |
| 2022 | 14 | Winter Storm | $58,000 |
| 2021 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $54,800 |
| 2020 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.1M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
St. Joseph County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in St. Joseph County, which includes Mishawaka, is typically good — 241 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
241
per year
Moderate Days
117
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
St. Joseph County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Mishawaka has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.0"
Annual Snowfall
49.9"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
133
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
150
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 17°F | 2.71" |
| Feb | 35°F | 19°F | 2.32" |
| Mar | 47°F | 27°F | 2.44" |
| Apr | 59°F | 38°F | 3.59" |
| May | 70°F | 50°F | 4.32" |
| Jun | 80°F | 59°F | 4.23" |
| Jul | 83°F | 63°F | 4.14" |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 4.23" |
| Sep | 76°F | 54°F | 3.67" |
| Oct | 63°F | 42°F | 3.97" |
| Nov | 48°F | 32°F | 2.86" |
| Dec | 37°F | 23°F | 2.39" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Mishawaka
Mishawaka has 3 hospitals, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
7.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Unity Physicians Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals
Medical Behavioral Hospital - Mishawaka
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Memorial Hospital of South Bend
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.4 mi away · South Bend
Elkhart General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.9 mi away · Elkhart
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Mishawaka
Mishawaka's student/teacher ratio is 15.6:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 29.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Mishawaka
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,008 students · in-state tuition $35,380 · 59% graduate · median earnings $54,006 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 3,933 students · in-state tuition $8,424 · 41% graduate · median earnings $50,051 (10 yrs after entry)
John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences
4.3 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 480 students · in-state tuition $24,500 · 92% graduate
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Indiana Dunes National Park, 48 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Mishawaka
Mishawaka has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Indiana Dunes National Park (48 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
48 mi awayPullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
74 mi awayPublic Libraries in Mishawaka
Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library
209 Lincoln Way East, Mishawaka
Bittersweet Branch Library
602 Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka
Cities Near Mishawaka
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Mishawaka?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Mishawaka FAQ
Is Mishawaka, Indiana affordable?⌄
Mishawaka's median rent is $1,070/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $54,291/year. Median home value is $155,500.
Is Mishawaka, Indiana safe?⌄
Mishawaka's violent crime rate was 306 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2611 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Mishawaka, Indiana?⌄
Mishawaka has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Mishawaka, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in Mishawaka is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,070/month and median household income is $54,291/year. The median home value is $155,500. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Mishawaka, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in Mishawaka is 21 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from