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Economy, jobs and prices in South Bend, Indiana: official figures

The median household income in South Bend was $55,786 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 91st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Indiana median $71,957.

Median household income
$55,786
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
6.5%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
20.2 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,033
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$140,400
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
60.2%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
88.9%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in South Bend?

Income per resident (per capita income) in South Bend averaged $30,791 a year in 2020-2024, 111th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Indiana: $38,351).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in South Bend?

South Bend's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.478 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 199th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in South Bend, Indiana?

6.5% of the civilian labor force in South Bend was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (3,243 people), 202nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Indiana's 4.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in South Bend are working?

62.7% of South Bend's 79,934 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 227th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in South Bend have jobs?

46,783 residents of South Bend held civilian jobs, 58.5% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 64 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in South Bend?

The largest industry group for working residents of South Bend was education, health care and social assistance (27.2% of employed residents), followed by manufacturing (15.8%) and retail trade (10.8%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in South Bend work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 15.8% of working residents of South Bend, 78th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 8.5% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in South Bend, Indiana?

Commuters in South Bend took 20.2 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 164th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 3.6% travelled an hour or more and 37.9% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in South Bend get to work?

11.2% of workers living in South Bend worked from home in 2020-2024, 271st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 71.1% drove to work alone, 11.6% carpooled, 1.6% used public transport and 2.2% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in South Bend, Indiana?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in South Bend was $1,033 a month in 2020-2024, 85th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Indiana: $1,062).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in South Bend?

Owner-occupied homes in South Bend had a median value of $140,400 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 32nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Indiana: $218,200).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in South Bend?

The median home value in South Bend was 2.5 times the median household income, 24th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in South Bend, Indiana own their home?

60.2% of the 41,282 occupied homes in South Bend were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 16,421 were rented, 364th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; Indiana: 70.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in South Bend have broadband?

88.9% of households in South Bend had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 148th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; Indiana: 89.9%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in South Bend have no internet?

8.3% of households in South Bend (3,426) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 115th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 15.5% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How South Bend compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

South Bend ranks 733 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
730La Crosse$55,866
731Bossier City$55,819
732Dothan$55,792
733South Bend$55,786
734Battle Creek$55,693
735Galveston$55,631
736Hialeah$55,594
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

South Bend ranks 713 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
710Bellflower$30,922
711National City$30,909
712McAllen$30,885
713South Bend$30,791
714Winter Haven$30,632
715Dearborn$30,588
716New Bedford$30,556
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

South Bend ranks 199 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
196Edinburg0.478
197Santa Fe0.478
198Portland0.478
199South Bend0.478
200Bethlehem0.478
201Conway0.477
202Ocala0.477
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

South Bend ranks 202 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
199Fontana6.5%
200Menifee6.5%
201Fall River6.5%
202South Bend6.5%
203Hollywood6.5%
204West Covina6.5%
205Chino6.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

South Bend ranks 597 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
594Deltona62.7%
595Lodi62.7%
596Eugene62.7%
597South Bend62.7%
598Olympia62.6%
599Augusta62.6%
600Newport Beach62.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

South Bend ranks 660 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
657St. Louis Park20.2
658Galveston20.2
659Knoxville20.2
660South Bend20.2
661Springfield20.2
662Harrisburg20.1
663Midland20.1
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

South Bend ranks 553 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
550Fort Pierce11.3%
551Garden Grove11.3%
552Westland11.3%
553South Bend11.2%
554Sherman11.2%
555Akron11.2%
556San Marcos11.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

South Bend ranks 327 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
324Salem1.6%
325Arcadia1.6%
326Eagan1.6%
327South Bend1.6%
328Newport News1.6%
329Carson1.6%
330Folsom1.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

South Bend ranks 78 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
75Paramount16.1%
76Cicero16.1%
77Woodbury16.0%
78South Bend15.8%
79Nashua15.8%
80Westminster15.8%
81Sunnyvale15.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

South Bend ranks 141 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
138Grand Junction27.4%
139Arcadia27.3%
140Utica27.3%
141South Bend27.2%
142Jackson27.2%
143Lincoln27.2%
144Stonecrest27.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

South Bend ranks 739 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
736Pharr$1,037
737Sioux Falls$1,035
738Cleveland$1,034
739South Bend$1,033
740Racine$1,033
741Laredo$1,030
742Appleton$1,030
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

South Bend ranks 792 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
789Lawton$142,100
790Battle Creek$141,900
791Harlingen$140,600
792South Bend$140,400
793Brownsville$139,900
794Rochester$139,600
795Elkhart$139,500
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

South Bend ranks 797 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
794Topeka2.5x
795Cuyahoga Falls2.5x
796Sioux City2.5x
797South Bend2.5x
798Davenport2.5x
799Cleveland2.5x
800Taylor2.5x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

South Bend ranks 364 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
361West Covina60.3%
362Waxahachie60.3%
363West Sacramento60.2%
364South Bend60.2%
365Daly City60.2%
366Racine60.2%
367Kingsport60.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

South Bend ranks 676 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
673San Bernardino89.0%
674Elizabeth89.0%
675Edinburg89.0%
676South Bend88.9%
677Waco88.9%
678Dubuque88.9%
679Troy88.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

South Bend ranks 115 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
112Longview8.4%
113Independence8.4%
114Schenectady8.3%
115South Bend8.3%
116Bethlehem8.2%
117Santa Maria8.2%
118Syracuse8.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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