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City · 103,085 residents · St. Joseph County, Indiana

South Bend , Indiana

In South Bend, a typical home is worth $140,400 and typical rent is $1,033 a month. Compared with all of St. Joseph County, the typical home value is 27% lower, typical household income is 17% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 9 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $140,400

    27% below the county

    36% below Indiana

    • South Bend
    • St. Joseph
    • Indiana

  • Typical rent

    $1,033a month

    3% below the county

    3% below Indiana

    • South Bend
    • St. Joseph
    • Indiana

  • Typical household income

    $55,786a year

    17% below the county

    22% below Indiana

    • South Bend
    • St. Joseph
    • Indiana

  • Households that own their home

    60%

    9 points below the county

    10 points below Indiana

    • South Bend
    • St. Joseph
    • Indiana

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$198,280
7.3% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,269 a month
1.8% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

South Bend is in St. Joseph County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of St. Joseph County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets South Bend apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. The typical home in South Bend is worth $140,400, 27% less than in St. Joseph County as a whole ($192,800).

  2. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in South Bend rose 7.3%; in Indiana, it rose 2.9%.

  3. The typical household income in South Bend is $55,786, 17% less than in St. Joseph County as a whole ($66,868).

  4. 60% of households in South Bend own their home, against 69% in St. Joseph County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in South Bend

What homes there are in South Bend, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

As in St. Joseph County, most homes in South Bend are detached houses (72%).

Year built

In South Bend, half of the homes were built before 1955; in St. Joseph County, before 1968.

In South Bend, 13% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 56% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 61% in St. Joseph County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 96% of owner-occupied homes in South Bend are worth less than the FHA loan limit for St. Joseph County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in South Bend cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,276): about 69%.

With a mortgage

$1,132 a month

St. Joseph County: $1,291 a month

Without a mortgage

$457 a month

St. Joseph County: $479 a month

Owners with a mortgage

57%

St. Joseph County: 60%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in South Bend is $1,132 a month, less than in St. Joseph County ($1,291); without one, $457.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in South Bend rose 65% since 2015–2019, more than in St. Joseph County (50%).

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in South Bend rose 31%, less than in St. Joseph County (34%).

To compare: typical income in South Bend rose 39%; the home, +65%; the rent, +31%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureSouth BendSt. Joseph CountyIndianaUnited States
Rental vacancy 6.6%6.1%5.6%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.7%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 2.1%1.6%1.8%3.4%
People per household 2.442.442.462.53
Drive alone 71%75%76%69%
Carpool 12%9%9%9%
Public transit 2%1%1%3%
Walk or bike 3%4%2%3%
Work from home 11%11%11%15%
Other means 1%1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Open rentals in South Bend look like those in St. Joseph County: the rental vacancy rate is 6.6%.

More than one person per room: that is how 2.1% of households in South Bend live, near the figure in St. Joseph County (1.6%).

Much as in St. Joseph County, a household in South Bend has 2.44 people on average.

In South Bend, 12% of workers share a car to get to work; in St. Joseph County, 9%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in South Bend?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in South Bend, worth $140,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 25% of the typical household income in South Bend, which is $55,786 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of St. Joseph County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in South Bend. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $4,914 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,166

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$137,857
Total interest
$198,344
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,371 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,302 a month

    Your payment · 25%

  • Tight

    $1,302 to $1,674 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,674 a month

Compared with the typical household income in South Bend ($55,786 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,166
Principal & interest$934
Property tax$111
Home insurance$59
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$62

You need at least $4,914 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

South Bend and St. Joseph County

South Bend is in St. Joseph County, Indiana. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

South Bend's own numbers

Typical home value
$140,400
Typical monthly rent
$1,033
Typical yearly household income
$55,786
Households that own their home
60%
Effective property tax rate
0.95%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of St. Joseph County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,276
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+59%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.6%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of St. Joseph County.

Everything about St. Joseph County

Buying

Buying a home in South Bend

A typical home in South Bend is worth $140,400: 27% below the county and 36% below Indiana. With the typical household income in South Bend ($55,786 a year), a typical home costs 2.5 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • South Bend 2.5 years
  • St. Joseph 2.9 years
  • Indiana 3.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in St. Joseph County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in St. Joseph County rose 106% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of St. Joseph County.

Period County Indiana U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.8% +4.3% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +59% +53% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +106% +95% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

South Bend next to St. Joseph County, Indiana and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • South Bend $140,400
  • St. Joseph $192,800
  • Indiana $218,200
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • South Bend $1,033
  • St. Joseph $1,062
  • Indiana $1,062
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • South Bend $55,786
  • St. Joseph $66,868
  • Indiana $71,957
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
South Bend next to St. Joseph County and Indiana
Measure South Bend St. Joseph County Indiana U.S.
Typical home value $140,400 $192,800 $218,200 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,033 $1,062 $1,062 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $55,786 $66,868 $71,957 $80,734
Households that own their home 60% 69% 71% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,332 $1,665 $1,614 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.95% 0.86% 0.74% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 50% 49% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below St. Joseph County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in South Bend

For a typical $140,400 home in South Bend, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, South Bend's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,166a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $4,914
    Cash to close
    $9,126
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $62

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,140a month

    Down payment
    $7,020
    Cash to close
    $11,232
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $67

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $931a month

    Down payment
    $28,080
    Cash to close
    $32,292
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,060a month

    Down payment
    $21,060
    Cash to close
    $25,272
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for South Bend and for St. Joseph County.

Property tax

Effective rate in South Bend

0.95%of the home’s value each year

$1,332 a year for the typical owner in South Bend.

  • South Bend 0.95%
  • St. Joseph 0.86%
  • Indiana 0.74%

What Indiana publishes Homestead standard deduction: the amount drops each year (Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF), Form HC10)

Exemptions and deadlines in Indiana

Flood risk in St. Joseph County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of St. Joseph County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.6%
611
Of those, with NFIP insurance
18%
County Indiana U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.6% 2.3% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 18% 17% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in South Bend

Typical rent in South Bend is $1,033 a month: 3% below the county. In South Bend, 50% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of St. Joseph County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,276 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $24.54 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of St. Joseph County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $937 $18.02 $37,480
1 bedroom $1,093 $21.02 $43,720
2 bedrooms $1,276 $24.54 $51,040
3 bedrooms $1,545 $29.71 $61,800
4 bedrooms $1,677 $32.25 $67,080

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in South Bend

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). South Bend has 7 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,170 in 46601 to $1,770 in 46617.

3 of the 7 are above the fair market rent for St. Joseph County ($1,276).

  • 46601 $1,170$1,420
  • 46613 $1,220$1,480
  • 46614 $1,170$1,420
  • 46615 $1,180$1,430
  • 46616 $1,280$1,550
  • 46617 $1,770$2,140
  • 46628 $1,310$1,590

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for South Bend when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in South Bend

HUD lists 34 buildings with rents for lower incomes in South Bend. These are the largest.

  • Karl King Tower 515 E Monroe St, South Bend 46601 219 low-income homes · For older adults (574) 282-2896
  • Fairington Apartments South Bend 1220 E Fairington Cir, South Bend 46614 201 low-income homes · For older adults (574) 291-2031
  • Plaza Apts & Monroe Cir 501 Alonzo Watson Dr, South Bend 46601 184 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of South Bend · Average payment: $267 a month · Average wait: 14 months (574) 235-9346
  • Beacon Heights 3401 Ardmore Trl, South Bend 46628 174 low-income homes · For families (574) 234-0920
  • Northwest Plaza 1253 S Bend Ave, South Bend 46617 165 homes, 162 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of South Bend · Average payment: $387 a month · Average wait: 33 months (574) 235-9346

See all 54 buildings in St. Joseph County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in South Bend

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in St. Joseph County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in South Bend

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for South Bend or St. Joseph County. The ones below are statewide in Indiana: they work in South Bend the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Indiana

  • Next Home

    Statewide in Indiana

    Indiana state agency program with down payment assistance of 2.5% or 3.5% of the price, alongside a 30-year FHA or conventional mortgage. Offered by Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • First Step

    Statewide in Indiana

    Indiana state agency 30-year FHA or conventional mortgage for first-time buyers (or homes in designated areas), with down payment assistance as a second mortgage with no interest or payments, repaid when the first mortgage ends. Offered by Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near South Bend

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of South Bend, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Lacasa of Goshen Inc - Branch Office

    516 S Main St, Elkhart · 15 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (574) 533-4450

  • Lacasa of Goshen, Inc.

    202 N Cottage Ave, Goshen · 24 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    574-533-4450x72

  • City of Gary Department of Community Development

    401 Broadway, Gary · 55 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (219) 881-5075

All counseling agencies in Indiana

Help in Spanish near South Bend

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of South Bend

HUD’s record names them for South Bend or St. Joseph County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of South Bend Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (574) 235-9346
  • St. Joseph County Housing Authority Section 8 vouchers (574) 656-3545

One other authority has an office in St. Joseph County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in St. Joseph County

These cities are also in St. Joseph County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about St. Joseph County Housing in Indiana

Nearby cities

The cities closest to South Bend, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If St. Joseph County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in South Bend.

All guides
A father, a mother and their daughter smile among the avocado trees by their home in Somis, California.

Questions

Housing questions about South Bend

Short answers with the numbers for South Bend and all of St. Joseph County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in South Bend?

The typical home value in South Bend is $140,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in St. Joseph County it is $192,800.

How much does it cost to rent in South Bend?

Typical rent in South Bend is $1,033 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in St. Joseph County is $1,276.

What is the FHA loan limit in South Bend?

South Bend uses the FHA limit for all of St. Joseph County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in South Bend?

The typical homeowner in South Bend pays $1,332 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.95% of the home’s value; in St. Joseph County, the rate is 0.86%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in South Bend?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in St. Joseph County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).