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Living in
South Bend.
About
Life in South Bend
If you're considering South Bend, you're looking at a Rust Belt city that's honest about its past and genuinely trying to build something new. The city was an industrial powerhouse built on manufacturing—Studebaker employed 45,000 people at its peak—but that economy largely evaporated by the 1960s. Today, the biggest employers are Beacon Health System (the regional hospital network), the University of Notre Dame, and a growing tech sector that's being deliberately cultivated through Innovation Park and other development projects.
South Bend at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
20.8%
Foreign-Born
8.5%
Broadband Internet
88.9%
of households
Population Growth
-0.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in South Bend: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In South Bend, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (44.8%), and 12.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.5%
of residents
65 and Older
15.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.8%
of households
Married Couples
32.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.44
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 South Bend
In South Bend, home values are 36% below the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,332
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1955
median year built
Vacant Homes
13.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $198,280 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts above IN average
Unemployment in South Bend
Unemployment in South Bend is 0.7 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 South Bend Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.2 min avg
How South Bend residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In South Bend, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 78% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
South Bend International Airport (SBN)
Small hub552k passengers boarded in 2025
- 78 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 88 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 38% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in South Bend runs 38% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
452.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,048.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
South Bend 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 South Bend, 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 South Bend, 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
South Bend 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
40.9"
Annual Snowfall
64.5"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
133
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
153
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" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in South Bend
South Bend has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Memorial Hospital of South Bend
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Unity Physicians Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 5.1 mi away · Mishawaka
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.3 mi away · Mishawaka
Medical Behavioral Hospital - Mishawaka
Psychiatric · 5.7 mi away · Mishawaka
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.
Education10.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in South Bend
South Bend's student/teacher ratio is 10.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 29.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
33
within city limits
Private Schools
18
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in South Bend
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
Private for-profit · 2-year · 480 students · in-state tuition $24,500 · 92% graduate
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,008 students · in-state tuition $35,380 · 59% graduate · median earnings $54,006 (10 yrs after entry)
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, 43 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for South Bend
South Bend has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Indiana Dunes National Park (43 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
43 mi awayPullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
69 mi awayPublic Libraries in South Bend
St Joseph County Public Library
304 South Main Street, South Bend
Centre Township Branch
1150 East Kern Road, South Bend
Lasalle Branch
3232 West Ardmore Trail, South Bend
River Park Branch
2022 Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend
Virginia M Tutt Branch Library
2223 South Miami Street, South Bend
Western Branch
611 Lombardy Drive, South Bend
Cities Near South Bend
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to South Bend?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
South Bend FAQ
Is South Bend, Indiana affordable?⌄
South Bend's median rent is $1,033/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $55,786/year. Median home value is $140,400.
Is South Bend, Indiana safe?⌄
South Bend's violent crime rate was 453 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1048 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in South Bend, Indiana?⌄
South Bend has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in South Bend, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in South Bend is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,033/month and median household income is $55,786/year. The median home value is $140,400. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in South Bend, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in South Bend is 20 minutes, which is shorter than 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