Smart Movers Club

    Moving to South Bend, IN

    Is South Bend a good place to live?

    Watch South Bend

    South Bend ranks #21 of 40 Indiana cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (48/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.2% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $124,500
    +9.4% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,000
    per month
    Household income
    $52,512
    median
    Unemployment
    6.0%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in South Bend

    The median home value in South Bend is $124,500 and median rent is $1,000 a month, against a median household income of $52,512. Homes cost about 2.4× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    South Bend crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Indiana the 2025 rate was 300 violent and 1,252 property crimes per 100,000 people — #35 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to South Bend, IN

    South Bend has about 102,866 residents, 6.0% unemployment and 17% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare South Bend with

    South Bend vs Indianapolis citySouth Bend vs Fort WayneSouth Bend vs EvansvilleSouth Bend vs FishersSouth Bend vs CarmelSouth Bend vs BloomingtonSouth Bend vs HammondSouth Bend vs Noblesville

    More: Where to move in Indiana · Best counties in Indiana

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report