Mishawaka, IN Local Data & Statistics

State: IN

Total population: 51,021 Household income: $54,291 Rent: $1,070

Overview

Total population

51,021

Rent

$1,070

Year built

1975

Household income

$54,291

Per capita income

$34,469

Poverty rate

16.4%

Unemployment rate

4.6%

Household size

2.2 persons

Rent over 30% of income

46.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Indiana

Total population

51,021

Adults over 25

34,676

Total households

22,850

Household size

2.2 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$54,291

Per capita income

$34,469

Poverty rate

16.4%

Unemployment rate

4.6%

Rent over 30% of income

46.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,070

Year built

1975

Households that rent

50.7%

Households that own

49.3%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.9

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

75.3%

Black

11.1%

Asian

2.4%

Two or more races

9.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

6.4%

Not Hispanic or Latino

93.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

92.1%

Commute time to work

21 mins

Work from home

7.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

30.6%

High school graduate or GED

31.6%

Some college or associate degree

8.6%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

29.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Mishawaka, IN with: Indiana United States

Mishawaka, IN

Total population51,021

Rent$1,070

Year built1975

Household income$54,291

Per capita income$34,469

Poverty rate16.4%

Unemployment rate4.6%

Indiana State

Total population6,851,073

Rent$1,062

Year built1976

Household income$71,957

Per capita income$38,351

Poverty rate12.3%

Unemployment rate4.2%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityMishawaka, IN	StateIndiana	CountryUnited States
Total population	51,021	6,851,073	334,922,499
Rent	$1,070	$1,062	$1,413
Year built	1975	1976	1980
Household income	$54,291	$71,957	$80,734
Per capita income	$34,469	$38,351	$44,673
Poverty rate	16.4%	12.3%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.6%	4.2%	4%

View the complete comparison of Mishawaka, IN, Indiana and United States →

Summary for Mishawaka, IN

Mishawaka is located in Indiana.

Rent & Income

In Mishawaka, the typical monthly rent is $1,070 and the typical household income is $54,291. Rent here is similar to Indiana and lower than the U.S., and household income is lower than both Indiana and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 16.4%, which is higher than in both Indiana and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 50.7% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 46.2% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 29.2% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.6%, which is higher than both Indiana and the national rate.

Mishawaka, IN — Rent vs Household Income

Mishawaka, IN — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Mishawaka, IN compares in Indiana (21 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,070	10 / 21	from lower rent	$904 – $1,712
Household income	$54,291	13 / 21	from higher income	$38,731 – $141,505
Poverty rate	16.4%	10 / 21	from lower poverty	3.6% – 33.1%
Unemployment rate	4.6%	14 / 21	from lower unemployment	3% – 9.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Indiana with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Mishawaka, IN

Rent

For typical rent levels, Mishawaka is ranked 10th out of 21 major areas in Indiana. Statewide values span from $904 in Muncie, IN to $1,712 in Carmel, IN.

Household income

Mishawaka ranks 13th among 21 large places for typical household income. Statewide values run from $38,731 in Gary, IN to $141,505 in Carmel, IN.

Poverty rate

Poverty levels put Mishawaka in 10th place among 21 significant areas. Across Indiana, poverty ranges between 3.6% and 33.1%.

Unemployment rate

Mishawaka places 14th among 21 large communities for unemployment. Statewide figures run from 3% to 9.2%.

💰 Rent in Mishawaka, IN (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,070 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Mishawaka, IN

Annual Household Income: $54,291

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Mishawaka, IN

Estimated Rate: 16.4%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Mishawaka, IN

In Mishawaka, IN, households that rent: 11,579 (50.7%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	11,579	50.7%
Owner-Occupied	11,271	49.3%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Mishawaka, IN

In Mishawaka, IN, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 5,350 (46.2%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	5,350	46.2%
Other renter households	6,229	53.8%
Total renter households	11,579	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Mishawaka, IN

Less than High School: 10,626 people (30.6%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 10,963 people (31.6%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 2,965 people (8.6%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 10,122 people (29.2%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 34,676

📊 Unemployment Rate in Mishawaka, IN

Estimated Rate: 4.6%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Troy, NY51,054 Burleson, TX50,981 Columbus, IN51,104 Westfield, IN51,109 Grapevine, TX50,875 Cuyahoga Falls, OH50,864 Hoffman Estates, IL51,186 Wake Forest, NC51,199 Delano, CA50,835 Collierville, TN51,212

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.