Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

South Bend, IN Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

103,085

Median Agei

34.8

Race & Ethnicityi

White

50.9%52,501

Black

22.4%23,141

Hispanic/Latino

17.9%18,403

Two or More

5.8%5,949

Asian

2.3%2,364

Other

0.6%572

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%113

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%42

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

6.9%4,669

High School Diploma

24%16,152

Some College (<1 yr)

6.7%4,522

Some College (1+ yr)

12.4%8,361

Associate's Degree

8.4%5,640

Bachelor's Degree

17.2%11,588

Master's Degree

8.1%5,443

Professional Degree

1.7%1,165

Doctorate

2.2%1,508

HS or Higher

87.8%

BA or Higher

29.3%

Graduate+

12.1%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$140,400

Median Renti

$1,033

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

60.2%24,861

Renter-Occupied

39.8%16,421

Total Units

47,775

Homeownership

60.2%

Vacancy Rate

13.6%

Home Values

Under $50K

9.3%2,317

$50K–$100K

22.7%5,640

$100K–$150K

21.8%5,432

$150K–$200K

17.9%4,460

$200K–$300K

17.2%4,279

$300K–$500K

6.8%1,690

$500K–$1M

3.3%821

$1M+

0.9%222

Rent Distribution

Under $500

1,145

$500–$750

2,235

$750–$1,000

3,949

$1,000–$1,250

4,336

$1,250–$1,500

2,297

$1,500–$2,000

1,397

$2,000+

460

Year Built

2020 or later

0.5%248

2010–2019

4.4%2,118

2000–2009

5.3%2,545

1990–1999

6.1%2,908

1980–1989

4.8%2,304

1970–1979

9%4,314

1960–1969

9%4,305

1950–1959

20%9,570

1940–1949

12.4%5,937

1939 or earlier

28.3%13,526

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

81.2%33,541

Electricity

16.5%6,829

Bottled/LP Gas

1.4%559

No Fuel

0.4%166

Fuel Oil

0.2%102

Wood

0.1%38

Other

0.1%30

Coal

0%17

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$55,786

Mean Household Incomei

$75,985

Per Capita Incomei

$30,791

Poverty Ratei

20.4%

Unemploymenti

6.5%

Labor Forcei

50,090

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

7.1%2,943

$10K–$15K

5.7%2,343

$15K–$20K

4.8%1,966

$20K–$25K

4%1,671

$25K–$30K

5.3%2,185

$30K–$35K

4.7%1,920

$35K–$40K

5%2,063

$40K–$45K

3.6%1,482

$45K–$50K

4.7%1,938

$50K–$60K

8.4%3,467

$60K–$75K

11.1%4,585

$75K–$100K

13.3%5,485

$100K–$125K

7.7%3,199

$125K–$150K

5.8%2,388

$150K–$200K

4.5%1,838

$200K+

4.4%1,809

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

4,356

Residentsi

8,203

Avg. Tenant Renti

$341/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

24 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing587 homes75% occupied$364/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers2,486 homes87% occupied$368/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 81,199 homes92% occupied$275/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC42 homes99% occupied$340/mo rent

811/PRAC42 homes97% occupied$334/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $55,786/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $17K/yr

76.7%

Very low income$17K–$28K/yr

17.4%

Low income$28K–$45K/yr

5.2%

Moderate / aboveOver $45K/yr

0.7%

Who Receives This Housing

78.3% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

79% of subsidized households are minority

14.9% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

26% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

8,7648.5%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

3,922

China

313

Guatemala

301

Philippines

227

India

202

Korea

142

United Kingdom

107

Canada

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

45,654

Avg. Commutei

20.2 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

46,783

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

3,730(4.9% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

91.2%Insured

8.8%Uninsured

South Bend, IN Population, Income & Demographics 2026