South Bend, Indiana Income Statistics
South Bend Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
South Bend Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | South Bend | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $56,382 | $71,967 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $47,850 | $55,757 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.5% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.9% | 10.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.4% | 8.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in South Bend is about 22% lower than in Indiana. Income has been growing faster in South Bend (5.5%/yr) than in Indiana (4.5%/yr).
About 6% of adults in South Bend earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Indiana average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in South Bend, Indiana grew by 55.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $56,382 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in South Bend
| Metric | South Bend | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.539 | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,128 | $65,086 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,167 | $51,220 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 12.9% | 21.3% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In South Bend, it is 0.539, higher than Indiana's 0.534, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 15% more than women's income in South Bend, Indiana. Over a 35-year career, a 15% wage gap accumulates to roughly $243,635 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in South Bend, Indiana has narrowed from about 23% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2011, and was narrowest at 12% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,124 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | South Bend | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3% | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.2% | 10.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 3,100 people are unemployed in South Bend, Indiana.
The average commute time in South Bend is 17 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Indiana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in South Bend, Indiana has fallen from 14.4% to 6.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 15.7% in 2012 and fell as low as 5.3% in 2022.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, South Bend, Indiana has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Indiana, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in South Bend, Indiana.
How Rich Is South Bend, Indiana?
South Bend has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $56,382, about 22% lower than the Indiana average of $71,967.
How fast is household income rising in South Bend, Indiana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in South Bend, Indiana rose 56%, from $36,244 to $56,382. Over the same years, income here outpaced Indiana as a whole: +56% against +52%.
What was the median household income in South Bend in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in South Bend, Indiana was $53,229, up 8% from $49,290 in 2022. The Indiana median that year was $70,115.
What was the median household income in South Bend in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in South Bend, Indiana was $43,279. By 2024 it had risen 30% to $56,382.
Is it hard to find a job in South Bend, Indiana?
Unemployment in South Bend, Indiana is 6.3%, well above the Indiana rate of 4.3%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in South Bend, Indiana?
The Gini coefficient in South Bend is 0.539. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in South Bend, Indiana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in South Bend, Indiana has narrowed from about 23% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2011, and was narrowest at 12% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,124 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →