Living in South Bend, IN
Mid-size city in Indiana
South Bend is a mid-size city in Indiana, home to about 103,000 people, with 454,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly houses.
Is South Bend a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $212k and rents for $1,570 a month
- Mild summers: highs around 81°F
- Low natural disaster risk: 5 federally declared disasters since 2000
- Strong healthcare: 3 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
👎 Cons
- Cloudier than most places
- Higher crime: violent crime is 3.5× the US rate (FBI 2019)
- Smaller job market: about 454,000 people live within 31 mi
- Fewer family amenities than most places
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how South Bend ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in South Bend: common questions
What is the cost of living in South Bend?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $212k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,570 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 93, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in South Bend?
Indiana collects about $1,275 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.99% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is South Bend safe?
Violent crime is well above the national rate (3.5× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in South Bend?
South Bend has long, snowy winters: winter days average around 35°F and summer days around 81°F, with roughly 65″ of snow a year.
Does South Bend get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding, cold waves and tornadoes: 5 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.66 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to South Bend?
The nearest major airport is MDW, about 77 mi away.
How South Bend scores
Each bar compares South Bend with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
Places like South Bend
These places have the most similar overall profile across all 23 aspects.
Nearby
See all the best places to live in Indiana.
Is South Bend right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.