City profile · Indiana · Census ACS 2023

South Bend, IN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for South Bend - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

102,866
Residents
$52,512
Median income
$124,500
Median home
$1,292
Median rent (state)

South Bend - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, South Bend places in the 24th percentile for household income and the 16th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

24th
percentile, household income
19th
percentile, home value
45th
percentile, median rent
16th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: South Bend, IN

South Bend is a mid-sized U.S. city in Indiana, home to 102,866 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $52,512 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 17.0%. Typical homes in South Bend are valued around $124,500, and the median resident age is 33.9 years. 29.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 59.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

South Bend's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 3009.2 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Indiana run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Indiana at 93.3 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,292 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Indiana run around $235, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 85.8 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

102,866 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Indiana

Median Household Income

$52,512 /yr

Poverty 17.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Indiana average

How does South Bend compare to other US cities?

Where South Bend sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 24% higher than other cities
Home value 19% pricier than other cities
Median rent 45% pricier than other cities
Safety 16% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Indiana and the picture shifts: South Bend ranks #104 of 109 Indiana cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below South Bend's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Indiana, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

24thIncome percentile
16thSafety percentile

24th percentile nationally for median household income · 16th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

South Bend's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

South Bend's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 36 Avg. percentile National median
South Bend's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How South Bend's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$124,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 81% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. South Bend $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - South Bend, IN South Bend, IN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not South Bend, IN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution South Bend, IN median $52,512/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
South Bend, IN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for South Bend, IN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 29.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 17.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 59.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
102,866
Median Income
$52,512
Median Home Value
$124,500
Median Age
33.9
Poverty Rate
17.0%
Labor force participation
59.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
29.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3009.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
965.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2044.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
36
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
103,000 residents103,200 residents103,400 residents103,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 103,341 residents 103,201 residents ▼ -0.1%
South Bend's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
71.4%
Carpool
11.8%
Public Transit
1.7%
Walk
2.5%
Work from Home
10.0%
Other
2.6%

Based on 45,757 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Indiana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Indiana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Indiana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county South Bend sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,292/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
85.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Indiana

Fishers
100,918 people
Carmel
100,501 people
Evansville
116,441 people
Bloomington
78,791 people
Hammond
77,098 people
Noblesville
71,940 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to South Bend's 102,866 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Goodyear, AZ
102,891 people
Lee's Summit, MO
102,583 people
Edinburg, TX
102,561 people
Daly City, CA
102,560 people
Wichita Falls, TX
102,558 people
San Mateo, CA
103,555 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to South Bend's $52,512 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Alamogordo, NM
$52,515 median income
Avon, AL
$52,500 median income
Malvern, AL
$52,500 median income
McIntyre, GA
$52,500 median income
Waleska, GA
$52,500 median income
Kualapuu, HI
$52,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - South Bend, IN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition South Bend, IN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 54.1% 24.4% 13.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 17.3% White 54.1% Black or African American 24.4% Asian 1.7% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 5.9% Two or more races 13.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How South Bend compares to nearby Indiana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
South Bend (this city) 102,866 $52,512
Fishers 100,918 $128,141
Carmel 100,501 $134,602
Evansville 116,441 $52,251
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IN FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about South Bend, IN?

What is the population of South Bend, IN? +

102,866 people live in South Bend, IN according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in South Bend, IN? +

In South Bend, the typical household earns $52,512 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in South Bend? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for South Bend; the closest available measure is the Indiana state average, a cost of living index of 93.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Indiana vary by metro area.

Is South Bend, IN safe? +

South Bend has a total crime rate of 3009.2 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in South Bend, IN? +

Homes in South Bend carry a median value of $124,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.