Can you afford to live in South Bend?

Median household income, home values and rent in South Bend, IN — how they've changed since 2015 and how much of a typical paycheck housing takes compared with the rest of the country.

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

This story was assembled using AI and public data sources.

What it costs to live in South Bend.

Median household income: $52,512 — +52.1% since 2015 (not adjusted for inflation)

Median gross rent: $1,000/mo — +42.2% since 2015

Median home value, 2015 to 2023

• 2015: 81500
• 2023: 124500

Median household income

• South Bend: 52512
• St. Joseph County: 64885
• IN: 70051
• U.S.: 78538

Median gross rent

• South Bend: 1000
• St. Joseph County: 1030
• IN: 1020
• U.S.: 1348

Share of income a typical renter spends on rent: 31.3% — U.S.: 30.2%

What it means

The typical household here earns $52,512 — far lower than the national figure of $78,538.

The typical renter here spends 31.3% of household income on rent, above the 30% level housing agencies use to define cost burden.

Since 2015, income has kept pace with rent here (+52.1% versus +42.2%), before adjusting for inflation.