South Bend, IN Local Data & Statistics

State: IN

Total population: 103,085 Household income: $55,786 Rent: $1,033

Overview

Total population

103,085

Rent

$1,033

Year built

1955

Household income

$55,786

Per capita income

$30,791

Poverty rate

20.8%

Unemployment rate

5.1%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

47.2%

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

103,085

Adults over 25

67,282

Total households

41,282

Household size

2.4 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

$55,786

Per capita income

$30,791

Poverty rate

20.8%

Unemployment rate

5.1%

Rent over 30% of income

47.2%

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

Housing

Rent

$1,033

Year built

1955

Households that rent

39.8%

Households that own

60.2%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.4

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

Race

White

53.5%

Black

22.7%

Asian

2.3%

Two or more races

15%

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

17.9%

Not Hispanic or Latino

82.1%

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

88.8%

Commute time to work

20 mins

Work from home

11.2%

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

29.1%

High school graduate or GED

30.9%

Some college or associate degree

10.7%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

29.3%

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

Comparison of South Bend, IN with: Indiana United States

South Bend, IN

Total population103,085

Rent$1,033

Year built1955

Household income$55,786

Per capita income$30,791

Poverty rate20.8%

Unemployment rate5.1%

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	CitySouth Bend, IN	StateIndiana	CountryUnited States
Total population	103,085	6,851,073	334,922,499
Rent	$1,033	$1,062	$1,413
Year built	1955	1976	1980
Household income	$55,786	$71,957	$80,734
Per capita income	$30,791	$38,351	$44,673
Poverty rate	20.8%	12.3%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	5.1%	4.2%	4%

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

Summary for South Bend, IN

South Bend is located in Indiana.

Rent & Income

In South Bend, the typical monthly rent is $1,033 and the typical household income is $55,786. 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 20.8%, which is higher than in both Indiana and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 39.8% of households. About 47.2% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 29.3% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 5.1%, which is higher than both Indiana and the national rate.

South Bend, IN — Rent vs Household Income

South Bend, IN — Poverty vs Unemployment

How South Bend, IN compares in Indiana (21 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,033	9 / 21	from lower rent	$904 – $1,712
Household income	$55,786	10 / 21	from higher income	$38,731 – $141,505
Poverty rate	20.8%	16 / 21	from lower poverty	3.6% – 33.1%
Unemployment rate	5.1%	17 / 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 South Bend, IN

Rent

In rent comparisons, South Bend comes in 9th out of 21 large places. Across Indiana, rents vary from $904 in Muncie, IN to $1,712 in Carmel, IN.

Household income

For median household income, South Bend is ranked 10th out of 21 large areas. Statewide incomes span from $38,731 in Gary, IN to $141,505 in Carmel, IN.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty, South Bend ranks 16th out of 21 large places. Statewide poverty rates range from 3.6% in Westfield, IN to 33.1% in Gary, IN.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment levels put South Bend in 17th place among 21 large places. Statewide unemployment spans from 3% in Fishers, IN to 9.2% in Gary, IN.

💰 Rent in South Bend, IN (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,033 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 South Bend, IN

Annual Household Income: $55,786

💡 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 South Bend, IN

Estimated Rate: 20.8%

💡 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 South Bend, IN

In South Bend, IN, households that rent: 16,421 (39.8%)

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

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	16,421	39.8%
Owner-Occupied	24,861	60.2%

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 South Bend, IN

In South Bend, IN, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 7,758 (47.2%)

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

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	7,758	47.2%
Other renter households	8,663	52.8%
Total renter households	16,421	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 South Bend, IN

Less than High School: 19,567 people (29.1%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 20,821 people (30.9%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 7,190 people (10.7%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 19,704 people (29.3%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 67,282

📊 Unemployment Rate in South Bend, IN

Estimated Rate: 5.1%

💡 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

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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.