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Indiana city profile

What Is It Like to Live in South Bend?

What it costs to live in South Bend, and how it compares with other Indiana cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

48

36th best value in Indiana

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Indiana cities.

Overall livability

28

61st overall in Indiana

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

South Bend is home to about 102,786 people. A typical home runs $95,500 and a household earns around $46,000, a price-to-income ratio of 2.1. Among Indiana's largest cities, it ranks 36th for value and 61st overall.

South Bend at a glance

Median home price

$95,500

13th in IN of 62

Median rent

$862/mo

Median household income

$46,000

Home price to income

2.1x

Unemployment

5.4%

35th in IN of 62

School rating

2/10

55th in IN of 62

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in IN of 62

Walk score

11/100

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‹ See all top Indiana cities ranked  ยท  Indiana state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Indiana only. Updated 2026.