Elkhart vs South Bend
Elkhart, Indiana versus South Bend, Indiana: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
South Bend edges out Elkhart on overall objective livability (58 vs 49 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Elkhart | South Bend |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $47k | $49k |
| Cost of Living | $45k | $42k |
| Home Value | $119k | $114k |
| Monthly Rent | $896 | $935 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $984 | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.93% | 1.03% |
| Income Tax | 5.20% | 5.20% |
| Sales Tax | 7.00% | 7.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.88% | 9.89% |
| Unemployment | 3.9% | 5.5% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 25°F | 24°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 72°F | 72°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2 in | 40.9 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.9 in | 64.5 in |
| Sunny Days | 208 days | 208 days |
| Summer Humidity | 62°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 96 days | 99 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 46.2 | 7.4 |
| Air Quality | 49 AQI | 50 AQI |
| School Quality | 52.3 | 72.3 |
| Violent Crime | 2595/100k | 174/100k |
| Property Crime | 2990/100k | 173/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 53,785 | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 33.4 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.50 | 0.61 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.91 | 0.91 |
| Political Leaning | R+29 | Even |
| White (%) | 57.0% | 51.1% |
| Black (%) | 12.0% | 24.9% |
| Hispanic (%) | 26.2% | 16.4% |
| Asian (%) | 0.7% | 2.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.0% | 5.6% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 18 min | 20 min |
| Walkability | 8.8/20 | 9.6/20 |
| Airport Distance | 85 mi | 77 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 86.4% | 82.2% |
| Amenities Nearby | 17.85 | 29.88 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Elkhart or South Bend more affordable?
- South Bend has the lower cost of living: its index is $42k, compared with Elkhart's $45k and South Bend's $42k. Median rent is $896 in Elkhart versus $935 in South Bend.
- Is Elkhart or South Bend safer?
- South Bend has the lower violent crime rate. Elkhart reports 2595/100k and South Bend reports 174/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Elkhart or South Bend?
- The median home value is $119k in Elkhart and $114k in South Bend, so homes are more affordable in South Bend.