The Town FilesSouth Bend, Washington
City in Pacific County · population 1,746 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $262,300
- Household income
- $45,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 71°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 47.9
South Bend is a city of 1,746 people in Pacific County, Washington. The median home is worth $262,300, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks more seaside character than 98% of Washington towns, better for a vacation home than 86% of Washington towns, better for first-time buyers than 79% of Washington towns.
How South Bend ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in South Bend is worth $262,300, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 5.8 times the median household income of $45,000, which is more affordable than 36% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,010 a month. 64.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Bend | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $262,300 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,010 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $45,000 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.8× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 64.0% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in South Bend
| People | South Bend | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.9 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.0% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.2% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.1% | — |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.3% | 93.9% |
Weather in South Bend
July highs average 71.4°F and January lows 33.0°F. About 83.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 82 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of South Bend since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. The strongest, an F0, struck on December 1, 1990 about 1.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 1, 1990.
Severe weather in Pacific County since 1996
Pacific County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, earthquake.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4906: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 28, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4775: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 29, 2022 | Flood | DR-4650: Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding |
| April 8, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4593: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 23, 2020 | Flood | DR-4539: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Pacific County
Pacific County had 6,498 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,311 a year. Unemployment was 6% in 2023; in South Bend itself the ACS puts it at 7.8%.
Public schools in South Bend
4 public schools with 622 students, about 18.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Morris Elementary | PK-6 | 362 | 22.6 |
| South Bend High School | 7-12 | 249 | 14.6 |
| Pacific Virtual Learning | K-12 | 11 | — |
| Pacific County Jail | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near South Bend
- Raymond, WA3.1 mi · 3,081 people · home $267,500
- Ocean Park, WA16.5 mi · 1,814 people · home $350,500
- Grayland, WA18.1 mi · 847 people · home $227,900
- Ocosta, WA18.5 mi · 502 people · home $122,400
- Cosmopolis, WA19.7 mi · 1,638 people · home $317,000
- Cohassett Beach, WA19.7 mi · 771 people · home $404,700
- Aberdeen, WA21.1 mi · 17,013 people · home $237,300
- Central Park, WA21.4 mi · 2,841 people · home $335,500
South Bend questions
Is South Bend, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Bend scores better for retirees than 69% of Washington towns and quieter than 65%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.9).
How much does a house cost in South Bend?
The median owner-occupied home in South Bend is valued at $262,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,000, so homes cost about 5.8 times income. Median rent is $1,010 a month.
What is the weather like in South Bend?
July highs average 71.4°F and January lows 33.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 83.7 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does South Bend get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of South Bend since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on December 1, 1990. The typical Washington town has had 1.
- 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)