City · Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, city, in St. Joseph County, Indiana. South Bend had 103,201 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 103,453 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 103,085 (±716). GEOID 1871000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
103,201
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 103,453 · ACS 2020-2024: 103,085 ±716
Median household income
$55,786
±$1,639 (90% margin)
Indiana: $71,957
Median home value
$140,400
±$4,802 (90% margin)
Indiana: $218,200
Median gross rent
$1,033
±$30 (90% margin)
Indiana: $1,062
Where is South Bend and what county is it in?
South Bend is a city in St. Joseph County, Indiana. It covers 41.9 square miles of land, 2,469 residents per square mile in 2020.
South Bend is in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
South Bend lies mostly within Portage Township (St. Joseph County) and reaches into Centre Township, German Township (St. Joseph County) and Clay Township (St. Joseph County), towns or townships with their own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in South Bend, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 103,201 people lived in South Bend on July 1, 2025, down 0.2% since 2020, while Indiana grew 2.8%. The 2020 Census counted 103,453 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 103,085 (±716).
| Measure | South Bend | St. Joseph County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 103,085 ±716 | 273,040 | +1,048 |
| Households | 41,282 ±917 | 107,252 | +2,714 |
| Average household size | 2.44 ±0.05 | 2.44 | −0.12 |
| Housing units | 47,775 ±907 | 118,580 | no clear change |
South Bend's population since 2000
From 107,789 in 2000 to 103,201 in 2025: down 4.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for South Bend as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in South Bend?
The median resident of South Bend is 34.8 years old; 25.5% are under 18 and 15.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 50.9%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 22.4%. 8.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | South Bend | St. Joseph County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.8 ±0.8 | 36.7 | +1.5 |
| Under 18 years | 25.5% ±0.7 pts | 23.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.0% ±0.7 pts | 16.9% | – |
| Male | 47.9% ±0.8 pts | 48.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 17.9% ±0.9 pts | 10.5% | +2.2 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 50.9% ±1.3 pts | 68.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 22.4% ±1.2 pts | 12.3% | −3.8 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.3% ±0.5 pts | 2.7% | +0.9 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.8% ±0.9 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.5% ±0.8 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 15.8% ±1.2 pts | 11.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.9% ±0.5 pts | 5.5% | – |
| With a disability | 15.0% ±1.0 pts | 13.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.8% ±0.9 pts | 7.1% | −2.1 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.8% ±1.0 pts | 91.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 29.3% ±1.4 pts | 33.5% | +3.6 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 12.1% ±1.0 pts | 13.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.0% ±1.2 pts | 87.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.2% ±0.7 pts | 3.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in South Bend earn?
Half of South Bend's 41,282 households earn less than $55,786 a year (±$1,639), against $66,868 in St. Joseph County and $71,957 in Indiana. In 2015-2019 the median was $49,554 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $6,232 after inflation. 20.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | South Bend | St. Joseph County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $55,786 ±$1,639 | $66,868 | +$6,232 |
| Mean household income | $75,985 ±$4,787 | $92,212 | – |
| Per capita income | $30,791 ±$1,570 | $36,834 | +$2,654 |
| People below the poverty line | 20.8% ±1.6 pts | 14.2% | −2.8 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 29.1% ±3.8 pts | 19.7% | −4.9 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 16.3% ±1.5 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 93.8% ±1.0 pts | 95.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.9% ±1.1 pts | 90.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in South Bend?
Owners occupy 60.2% of South Bend's occupied homes and renters 39.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $140,400 by its owner (±$4,802). The median renter pays $1,033 a month including utilities, and 41.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | South Bend | St. Joseph County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $140,400 ±$4,802 | $192,800 | +$35,545 |
| Median gross rent | $1,033 ±$30 | $1,062 | +$62 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 41.1% ±3.3 pts | 39.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,132 ±$35 | $1,291 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 60.2% ±1.7 pts | 69.0% | +3.0 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 39.8% ±1.7 pts | 31.0% | – |
| Housing units | 47,775 ±907 | 118,580 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.8% ±0.4 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.6% ±1.6 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 71.6% ±1.4 pts | 73.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.7% ±0.3 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5% ±0.2 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.4% ±0.6 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 28.3% ±1.4 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 9.8% ±1.0 pts | 6.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in South Bend work and get to work?
71.1% of South Bend's workers drive alone and 11.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.5%.
| Measure | South Bend | St. Joseph County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.7% ±1.3 pts | 63.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.5% ±1.0 pts | 5.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 71.1% ±1.6 pts | 74.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.6% ±1.3 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.6% ±0.5 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Walked | 2.2% ±0.4 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.2% ±1.6 pts | 10.7% | +7.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.2 min ±0.7 | 21.1 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in South Bend?
38 census tracts lie mostly in South Bend, and 12 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $23,750 (Tract 4) to $125,704 (Tract 16).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 32St. Joseph County | 5,314 | $81,707 |
| Tract 31St. Joseph County | 4,434 | $43,972 |
| Tract 11St. Joseph County | 4,190 | $56,439 |
| Tract 26St. Joseph County | 4,009 | $53,657 |
| Tract 2St. Joseph County | 3,867 | $49,953 |
| Tract 34St. Joseph County | 4,013 | $39,839 |
| Tract 10St. Joseph County | 3,479 | $56,250 |
| Tract 14St. Joseph County | 3,466 | $67,981 |
| Tract 118.03St. Joseph County | 3,502 | $75,461 |
| Tract 15St. Joseph County | 3,236 | $50,648 |
| Tract 22St. Joseph County | 3,072 | $43,092 |
| Tract 24St. Joseph County | 3,010 | $39,189 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in South Bend) · Census block assignment files
How does South Bend compare with other places in Indiana?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, South Bend is the 325th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 6th-most populous of 566 in Indiana.
South Bend ranks 888th of 1,072 places in Indiana with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 6th | 566 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 788th | 1,056 |
| Residents per square mile | 40th | 1,088 |
| Median household income | 888th | 1,072 |
| Per capita income | 808th | 1,087 |
| Median home value | 850th | 1,075 |
| Median gross rent | 253rd | 904 |
| Poverty rate | 79th | 736 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 228th | 1,029 |
| Median age | 913th | 1,083 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,007th | 1,087 |
| Work from home | 206th | 595 |
| Travel time to work | 916th | 1,088 |
South Bend's figures with every place in Indiana (CSV)
Every place in Indiana, sortable · Compare South Bend with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for South Bend?
2 of the 57 figures for South Bend on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for South Bend are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in South Bend.