Voted One of the Most Livable Cities in the USA
Perched on the banks of the St. Joseph River just 35 miles from Lake Michigan, South Bend is a vibrant college town and the unofficial capital of Michiana. This home of Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish has a diverse population of just over 100,000 — something that hasn’t changed much over the past decade. But this might make you wonder: if not that many people are moving here, is South Bend, Indiana, a good place to live?
Well, the U.S. News & World Report certainly thinks so. Ranked as one of the 25 Best Places to Live for Quality of Life, South Bend is an affordable and affable city that often flies under the radar. Unlike larger cities on the list, like Boston, San Diego and Boulder, South Bend’s housing costs are affordable, so moving to South Bend isn’t something the average American family would have to save up for — this is a move you could make right now.
Another plus of living in South Bend? The downtown area has been revitalized over the last fifteen years, and the city’s food scene and cultural amenities have continued to flourish. Longstanding traditions, like the South Bend Farmer’s Market, Art Beat and the St. Joseph County 4-H Fair — now in its 100th year — give the Bend a unique community spirit. Museums and performing arts spaces lend the city an outsize cultural scene, but those looking for even more will find it in nearby Chicago and other neighboring cities. Don’t forget the great outdoors, either — hiking, biking and even whitewater rafting are some of South Benders’ favorite ways to have fun.
If you’re looking for a close-knit, Great Lake-adjacent city with a friendly, Midwestern vibe, South Bend should definitely be on your list. Learn more about the city below, where our moving guide to South Bend will address the economy, the housing market, our favorite things to do and more.
The Cost of Living in South Bend is Low
This city may be smaller than many are used to, but the cost of living in South Bend, Indiana, is also far below average. While the median home value in the U.S. now tops $300,000, South Bend’s median is less than half of that — $124,500 . Planning on leasing? The median gross rent in South Bend is just $1,000/month.
How does this compare to other nearby cities in the Midwest? Chicago is certainly one of the spendier places to call home in the region, with median home values averaging $315,200 between 2019 and 2023. Indianapolis comes in at $207,000, just above the state median, while the median St. Louis home is valued at $185,100.
Consider, too, that South Bend’s overall cost of living index is only 90.1 — far lower than Chicago’s 123.9 index. The low-cost living in South Bend make it an appealing choice for anyone looking to get more for less, from young families to retirees.
There are Lots of Interesting Towns Nearby
Chicago may have a magnetic pull from the western side of Lake Michigan, but there are so many towns near South Bend, Indiana, to enjoy. The Michiana region is one of the most fun and underappreciated places in the U.S., and its inviting landscape and friendly, small-town vibes make for relaxing weekend escapes.
Nearby Mishawaka — better known as the Princess City — has a refined downtown district befitting its nickname, with an elegant Riverwalk, the weekly Mishawaka Market the serene Japanese gardens of Shiojiri Park. In the wintertime, skaters head out to the Mishawaka Ice Ribbon in Ironworks Plaza.
Curious about South Bend’s other suburbs? Granger is one of the most desirable areas, while Niles (MI), Elkhart (IN) and Goshen (IN) have unique restaurants, shopping districts and neighborhoods — all within a 30-minute radius.
Chicago is One Hour Away
Less than an hour from Lake Michigan and only 95 miles east of Chicago, South Bend is the geographic envy of many cities in the Midwest. The train to Chicago costs $15.75 on the South Shore Line and takes just two hours — only slightly longer than driving — and public transportation allows you to avoid the headache of Chicagoland traffic as well as parking fees. If you’re considering a hybrid or in-person job in Chicago, you can save even more by buying a monthly commuter pass. Amtrak also connects both cities, but their fares are considerably higher, and they offer fewer trains.
If you’re in the mood for a day trip or an easy weekend getaway, there are lots of other cities near South Bend, Indiana to visit. Kalamazoo, Michigan — home of Western Michigan University and the famously good pastries of Sweetwater’s Donut Mill — is less than 90 miles from South Bend. Fort Wayne, Indiana’s second-largest city, is less than two hours away, and you can be in the state capital of Indianapolis within three hours. A plate of Cincinnati’s famous chili is less than a five-hour drive from South Bend, and a ride to the top of Saint Louis’ mid-century monument in Gateway Arch National Park is just six hours away.
Whether you’re looking for fun or traveling around the region for business, South Bend can be a very desirable and affordable home base. Don’t forget one thing, though: South Bend is in the Eastern Time Zone, so if you’re commuting to Chicago, you’ll gain an hour each morning but lose it again on your trip home in the evening.
The Local Economy is Booming
While South Bend used to be an automotive powerhouse, the shuttering of the famous Studebaker factory in the mid-20th century was a big blow to this Midwest manufacturing hub — one of a series that threatened the city’s very existence. But recently, things have been looking up. They’ve incentivized recent college graduates to make South Bend more than just their temporary home for four years. And that old car factory that had been vacant since 2005? The building is being redesigned by Chicago architects AS+GG as a mixed-use tech hub, so your next job or favorite hangout might be in this reimagined historic space.
So, what is working in South Bend like?
A diverse array of industries supports nearly 142,000 jobs in South Bend-Mishawaka, from financial advising to healthcare. Employment numbers have been slightly depressed for the past six months, but in April 2025, the unemployment rate had dropped below 3.5% — more than a point and a half below February’s elevated rates.
In South Bend, the largest single employment sector is education and health services, which gained 4,500 jobs over the past month and now supports 37,000 positions in the field. Nearly as robust, trade, transportation and utilities supplies 25,500 jobs in South Bend, while leisure and hospitality, manufacturing and the government all tie for third, with each employing more than 15,000 workers in the region.
The biggest employers in South Bend-Mishawaka-New Carlisle include Notre Dame, Beacon Health, Honeywell Aerospace, AM General (manufacturer of Humvees and other tactical vehicles), steel producers I/N Tek I/N Kote and St. Joseph County.
One thing to keep in mind if you’re moving to South Bend from a larger city is that wages in this region fall far below the U.S. average. The median household income in South Bend averaged just $52,512 between 2019 and 2023 — that’s $26,000 less than the average American household earns annually.
Wondering what your earnings might look like in the Michiana region? Check out typical annual salaries for popular professions in the South Bend-Mishawaka area, tabulated by MIT.
Home to the Fighting Irish
Practically synonymous with the University of Notre Dame, South Bend is one of the Midwest’s most famous college towns. This historic Catholic university — and its Fighting Irish — are so famous, you’ll almost never hear anyone ask What is South Bend, Indiana, known for? unless it’s followed up with besides Notre Dame.
The university is a critical part of the city’s cultural and commercial base, attracting renowned researchers and top students and athletes from around the globe to its campus. The school is also one of the city’s largest employers, and it provides a range of job types, from academic posts to medical, marketing and administrative positions.
But the university is also a major moneymaker for South Bend. Football games and conferences bring in big bucks, and sites like Notre Dame Stadium and the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes are major tourist attractions. With all the dollars that visitors spend at local hotels, restaurants and bars, experts estimated the economic impact of Notre Dame to be $3.3 billion in 2024 alone.
Cold Winters, Warm Locals
There’s nothing like a long winter to bring people closer together. In fact, that bitter cold may be the secret to maintaining the warm and friendly community spirit that is the hallmark of Midwest hospitality. One of the softer selling points of South Bend is the neighborliness of the city — you’ll find residents in this tight-knit community exhibit a uniquely helpful disposition and lack any semblance of big-city snobbery or aloofness.
These attributes are one reason why community events in South Bend are so fun. You’ll find a lot of regulars at the South Bend Farmers Market and Friday night football games, not to mention annual festivals. Learn more about those in the culture section below.
Commuting is Easy, But You’ll Need a Car
One of the biggest benefits to moving to a smaller city are shorter commute times. Because you aren’t competing with millions of other morning drivers, getting to work in South Bend is less trying than it is in America’s core metros. The average commute in South Bend is just 20 minutes — a far cry from Chicago’s packed roads and trains, which slow that pace to a crawling 33.5 minutes. But it’s not as speedy as other like-sized, Midwest college towns, like Kalamazoo, where commutes average a mere 18 minutes.
The downside is that — despite the long-ago closure of South Bend’s biggest auto manufacturing operation, Studebaker — the city is still very car-dependent. Public transportation in South Bend is managed by Transpo, which provides bus service but no BRT (bus rapid transit) or light rail service. Buses depart every 30 minutes along the city’s most popular routes, but there is only one bus an hour for others. Downtown South Bend does offer free 2-hour parking for visitors and there are very reasonable daily and monthly parking rates.
If you hope to use only two wheels (or two feet) for your primary mode of transportation, South Bend still has a way to go before it achieves real walkability, but the city has maintained its status a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community™ with The League of American Bicyclists since 2010. The South Bend Bikeway, when it is complete, will provide 125 miles of networked bike routes, offering cyclists and pedestrians a carbon-free way to beat the traffic in South Bend.
Outdoor Opportunities Abound
Nestled against the banks of the winding St. Joseph River, in the northernmost reaches of Indiana, South Bend is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. The waterway is a natural playground for kayakers, tubers and paddleboarders, while the riverside trails and urban greenspaces are an easy mental escape on land.
The big water’s edge is less than an hour’s drive from South Bend, so you can be setting up an umbrella or hiking the sandy shores of Lake Michigan on any day of the week. Warren Dunes State Park offers some of the best views in the area, with the 260-foot-tall sand dunes encircling the lake. If you want to stay overnight, book your trip early! It’s nearly impossible to score lakeside accommodations of any kind on a whim during the high season.
Aquatic thrill-seekers can get a taste of the Colorado rapids right here in South Bend at the East Race Waterway — the first manmade whitewater course in the country. This downtown attraction has an easy course for beginners but progresses into pro-grade turbulence and waves that might literally knock your socks off.
If you’ve ever stared out at Lake Michigan with envy at the boats harbored in the marinas, you might want to consider signing up for lessons at South Bend’s Eagle Lake Sailing Club. This outfit has been around for nearly a century (just like us!) and they can teach you everything you need to know to enjoy those shimmering sapphire waters of the Great Lakes or even the many smaller waters throughout Michiana.
If mountain biking runs through your veins, check out NIMBA — the Northern Indiana Mountain Bike Association. Their biggest annual event is the Lawless, a grueling race in Vandalia, Michigan, with 15-, 30- and 50-mile courses. Practice your skills at the Rum Village Annex in South Bend or Peppermint Hill at Potato Creek State Park, which also has a gorgeous lake and restored prairielands.
Culture is King
South Bend isn’t just an Indiana college town — it’s a cultural hub of the region. The city’s robust cultural scene can treat you to performances at the South Bend Civic Theatre and the Morris Performing Arts Center, exhibitions at the History Museum, and thought-provoking works at the South Bend Museum of Art and Notre Dame’s Raclin Murphy Museum of Art.
But museums aren’t the only cultural activities in South Bend. When you’re looking for less serious things to do in South Bend, this is a city that really knows how to party. Annual celebrations like Hispanic Heritage Month, the World Cultural Festival in Valparaiso, Art Beat and the St. Joseph County 4H Fair celebrate the city’s richly diverse communities. Every first Friday from May to September, you can enjoy a free musical performance at the Howard Park Summer Concert Series — dancing is encouraged! When there isn’t a community event, take a craft beer tour of the city or soak up the food scene at spots like the Crooked Ewe. This BBQ joint that has a killer — or, rather, no-kill — vegan menu and a brunch that will make you stomp your cloven hooves for more.
Kids have their own in-town faves in the city, from the pint-size vet’s office at The Children’s Museum of South Bend to the larger-than-life-size exhibits at the Indiana Dinosaur Museum and hands-on experiences at the Potawatomi Zoo. Don’t forget the Studebaker National Museum, either. As one of the most iconic businesses in South Bend’s history, this institution showcases the many ways automobiles have shaped American culture.
Other Interesting Facts About South Bend
So, how big is South Bend, Indiana, anyway? It may be Indiana’s fourth-largest city, but South Bend encompasses only 42 square miles and has a population of roughly 100,000. This puts it in something of a Goldilocks Zone of Midwestern college towns. Academic hubs like Iowa City and Kalamazoo have populations under 80,000, while Ann Arbor — home of the University of Michigan — has roughly 120,000 residents.
But what about the city’s name? One of the most important cities in Michiana, South Bend was named for a distinctive, southern “bend” in the St. Joseph River. Without this waterway, the city would never have become the key trading post or industrial hub that it did.
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