The Town FilesSouth Bend, Indiana
City in St. Joseph County · population 103,453 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $140,400
- Household income
- $55,786
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 65 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 34.8
South Bend is a city of 103,453 people in St. Joseph County, Indiana. The median home is worth $140,400, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks more walkable than 98% of Indiana towns, hipper than 97% of Indiana towns, better transit than 96% of Indiana towns.
How South Bend ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in South Bend is worth $140,400, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $55,786, which is more affordable than 52% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $1,033 a month. 60.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Bend | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $140,400 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $1,033 | $888 |
| Median household income | $55,786 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 60.2% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in South Bend
| People | South Bend | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.8 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.0% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.3% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.8% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.2% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in South Bend
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 40.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 64.5 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Bend since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 7.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 78 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 81 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on April 17, 1963.
Severe weather in St. Joseph County since 1996
St. Joseph County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2026 | Flood | EM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
| May 4, 2018 | Flood | DR-4363: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in St. Joseph County
St. Joseph County had 121,043 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,303 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in South Bend itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Public schools in South Bend
39 public schools with 16,612 students, about 10.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams High School | 9-12 | 1,987 | 14.9 |
| Riley High School | 9-12 | 998 | 11.3 |
| Washington High School | 9-12 | 812 | 11.8 |
| Harrison Elementary School | PK-5 | 601 | 7.9 |
| Success Academy Primary School (charter) | K-5 | 572 | 11.9 |
| Madison S.T.E.A.M. Academy | K-5 | 565 | 11.3 |
| Jefferson Traditional School | 6-8 | 526 | 11.7 |
| Dickinson Fine Arts Academy | 6-8 | 519 | 13.7 |
| Clay International Academy | PK-8 | 506 | 7.8 |
| Kennedy Academy | K-5 | 480 | 14.5 |
| Clay High School | 9-12 | 477 | 6.4 |
| McKinley Elementary School | K-5 | 471 | 12.4 |
Towns near South Bend
- Notre Dame, IN2.3 mi · 7,234 people · home —
- Mishawaka, IN5.3 mi · 51,063 people · home $155,500
- Granger, IN8.1 mi · 30,337 people · home $331,100
- Bertrand, MI9.1 mi · 2,611 people · home $297,100
- Milton, MI9.2 mi · 3,128 people · home $299,600
- Osceola, IN9.8 mi · 2,590 people · home $196,900
- Niles, MI11.0 mi · 11,988 people · home $135,100
- Buchanan, MI11.6 mi · 4,300 people · home $154,300
South Bend questions
Is South Bend, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Bend scores better for retirees than 8% of Indiana towns and quieter than 3%. 15.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.8).
How much does a house cost in South Bend?
The median owner-occupied home in South Bend is valued at $140,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,786, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,033 a month.
What is the weather like in South Bend?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.9 inches of precipitation a year and 64.5 inches of snow.
Does South Bend get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Bend since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)