Population 147,189 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in South Bend
Household size in South Bend
| Period | South Bend | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.56 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.51 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.58 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.51 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The average household in South Bend has 2.51 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has edged down from 2.56 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Households are largest in the west and smallest in the northeast.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in South Bend
| Period | South Bend | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.7 | 37.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.1 | 38.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.1 | 39.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.2 | 39.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.5 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
South Bend is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.2, against 40.1 nationally. Indiana as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 36.7, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in South Bend
| Period | South Bend | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.0% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.0% | 12.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.1% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in South Bend than nationally: 13.1%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 1.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in South Bend
Renters in South Bend
| Period | South Bend | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.2% | 28.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.7% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.8% | 30.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.5% | 29.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in South Bend rent their homes (32.5%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in Indiana as a whole (29.4%). Among homeowners, 44.2% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 2.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in South Bend
| Period | South Bend | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.2% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.1% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.0% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.3% | 9.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in South Bend: 11.3% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has fallen 3.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in South Bend
| Period | South Bend | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1959 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1961 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1962 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1963 | 1977 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
South Bend is a place of older homes: half were built before 1963, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1959 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in South Bend
| Period | South Bend | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $750 | $763 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $745 | $819 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $830 | $903 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,077 | $1,146 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$327 | +$384 | +$606 |
Rent in South Bend runs $1,077 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $327 a month from 2006–10, a 44% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.7% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the northeast and lowest in the southeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in South Bend
Bachelor's degrees in South Bend
| Period | South Bend | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.9% | 23.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.5% | 24.6% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.1% | 27.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 30.6% | 30.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.7 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in South Bend than nationally: 30.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 6.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the west.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in South Bend
| Period | South Bend | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.1% | 86.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.1% | 87.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.8% | 88.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.5% | 89.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in South Bend is close to the national rate: 88.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in South Bend
| Period | South Bend | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.1% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 4.9% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.8 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in South Bend is close to the national rate: 6.0% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Indiana overall (4.3%). Unemployment is down 5.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
South Bend compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend | 2.51 | 38.2 | 13.1% | 32.5% | 11.3% | 1963 | $1,077 | 30.6% | 88.5% | 6.0% |
| Notre Dame | 1.75 | 20.4 | 2.8% | 68.8% | 10.2% | 1993 | $1,270 | 72.2% | 95.7% | 2.6% |
| Roseland | 2.43 | 26.5 | 4.4% | 67.3% | 30.9% | 1993 | $1,222 | 54.4% | 95.2% | 4.7% |
| Mishawaka | 2.43 | 36.8 | 11.4% | 40.6% | 9.2% | 1970 | $1,060 | 29.4% | 92.1% | 5.5% |
| Woodland | 2.30 | 50.0 | 12.2% | 4.7% | 3.2% | 1977 | $1,559 | 31.1% | 97.0% | 0.4% |
| Chain-O-Lakes | 2.52 | 48.1 | 4.6% | 0.0% | 8.8% | 2000 | $1,104 | 41.0% | 98.2% | 0.7% |
| Granger | 2.79 | 40.9 | 6.5% | 15.2% | 5.2% | 1991 | $1,734 | 53.5% | 96.5% | 4.3% |
| Osceola | 2.65 | 41.3 | 11.7% | 12.9% | 3.4% | 1978 | $1,173 | 31.9% | 94.2% | 1.9% |
| Niles | 2.49 | 43.6 | 10.9% | 21.8% | 8.2% | 1963 | $935 | 19.4% | 91.1% | 6.0% |
| Lakeville | 2.47 | 45.1 | 7.2% | 15.2% | 11.1% | 1972 | $912 | 22.6% | 95.2% | 0.8% |
| North Liberty | 2.59 | 40.9 | 8.9% | 10.8% | 5.1% | 1962 | $992 | 30.2% | 96.1% | 4.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Rocklin, CA · Rochester, MN · Rock Hill, SC · Richmond, VA · Redwood City, CA · Oxnard, CA · Pacoima, CA · Pawtucket, RI · Pasadena, TX · Parker, CO
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up South Bend. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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