South Bend IN
Indiana · Pop. 103,085
South Bend, IN: median household income of $55,786, median rent of $1,033/mo, 6.5% unemployment. Our verdict: It Depends.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$55,786
per year
Median Rent
$1,033
per month
Median Home
$140k
home value
Unemployment
6.5%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
20.8%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
20 min
one way
City Reality Check balanced
"South Bend, IN Reality Check"
In South Bend, the rent-to-income burden runs around 22% — refreshingly manageable by national standards. Median income sits at $55,786 and median rent is $1,033/month. 47% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $140,400 — that's 2.5× the median income. Employment picture: 6.48% unemployment — a average employment landscape. Poverty rate: 20.8% — well above the national average. The headline economic numbers hide a bifurcated city. Average commute: 20 minutes — mercifully short. South Bend was founded in 1865 — that's 161 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 41.8 sq miles at 2,466 people/sq mile — spread out. Elevation: 692 ft — modest elevation. RoastMyCity overall score: 67/100 — It Depends.