Why South Bend Might Be the Midwest Gem You’ve Been Looking for
Named for the great “bend” in the St. Joseph River, South Bend lies counterintuitively on Indiana’s northern edge, just a few minutes from the Michigan border and only an hour from the deep waters of the Great Lakes. The city got its start as a fur trading post, but it quickly became a manufacturing powerhouse, one that brought the world the kitten-like purr of the Studebaker engine, the sleek, black walnut cabinets of Singer sewing machines, and the “chilled” equipment of the Oliver Plow Company, which pioneered a new way of cooling its cast iron into a shinier, more durable material.
The University of Notre Dame has made South Bend a hub for higher education since its founding in 1842, where some of the brightest researchers in the sciences and humanities spur technological and intellectual innovations. Similarly, IU South Bend — one of the top 50 public schools in the country — offers 100 programs across seven schools, from the arts to economics.
South Bend has been the home of several influential politicians, from Schuyler Colfax — Ulysses S. Grant’s veep — to Pete Buttigieg, the city’s mayor who went on to serve as the Secretary of Transportation under Biden. But the city’s residents — which now number more than 100,000 — have found success in diverse professions, from aerospace to finance. And, with low unemployment and affordable housing, South Bend is increasingly looking like more than just a cool place to go to college. Great restaurants, museums, parks and festivals make this river city family-friendly, and the youthful vibe from the co-eds keep it from ever feeling stale.
Though two of the Hoosier State’s quirky corners follow the rules of Central Time, South Bend is definitively in the Eastern Time Zone. And, yes, everyone in the state observes Daylight Savings Time, whether they want to lose that hour in the spring or not.
If you are looking for a small Midwestern city with a big personality, South Bend, Indiana, may be the place to move. Learn more about the pros and cons of living in South Bend below in our moving guide, where we’ll discuss the weather, the job and housing markets, our favorite neighborhoods and the best places to hang out.
South Bend Weather: What to Expect Through the Seasons
The northwest corner of Indiana has seen a climatic thing or two in its day, and you will, too, if you move to South Bend. To be certain, this Midwestern city on the edge of the Great Lakes often lives on the edge — at least weather-wise — and these dramatic shifts can easily leave residents feeling the bends. Subject to everything from tornadoes to blizzards, there is no drama-free season in Indiana.
Let’s start with the most brutal for out-of-towners — winter. The average temperature in this Nordic nook won’t get out of the 20s F from December to February, and lows will most often be in the teens. But wait…there’s more! Because you’re on the eastern side of Michigan, you’ll also be subject to more intense bouts of Lake Effect snow, which have dumped more than 100 inches of the frozen menace here — as it did in the Blizzard of 2011, and nearly 93 inches fell in 2019. But even last year’s meager average of 30 inches is more than some people can handle. If you prepare properly, you likely won’t be one of them. Cold-loving creatures find plenty of ways to embrace the season, from ice skating and hockey to sledding and skiing.
On the opposite extreme are South Bend summers. Much like South Beach, this sexy strip of the Ohio River Valley can really make you sweat, with highs reaching the 90s, occasionally breaking the 100°F-mark. But unlike Miami (in every other imaginable way), these extremes are unusual, thanks to the cooling effect of the water. The average high is only in the low 80s, and nighttime temps can even fall into the upper 50s F on a July night, if you’re lucky. This makes South Bend perfect for cookouts and summer festivals.
In between solstices, spring brings its own drama, with fluctuating temperatures producing wild winds, thunderstorms and the dreaded F-word — Fujita — the scale by which tornados are measured. In 1965, an F-4 cyclone took the lives of 35 people, but this was — thankfully — the most intense funnel the city has seen since. Other storms have wreaked havoc and heartache, costing millions of dollars, so be sure to heed forecasters’ warnings and shelter below ground. Most of the time, spring is pleasant (if a little muddy) in South Bend, and gardens will be in full force by early May.
Fall is the most temperate season in South Bend, when neither scorching sun nor obnoxious sleet will spoil your weekend plans. September and October are prime for picking the best of the breadbasket in the Hoosier State, from apples and pumpkins to the best bale on the hayride. Indulge in all the Americana your cool-weather-loving heart desires.
What’s the Cost of Living in South Bend Really Like?
While the cost of living in Indiana is already far below the national average, South Bend is one of the state’s most affordable and appealing places to be. The median home value in this college town of 100,000 is only $124,500 — less than half the price of the average U.S. home, and $75K less than the state average. Renters also have it easier than most of their national counterparts — the median gross rent is only $1,000/mo.
Though these numbers make it sound like the livin’ is easy in Indy, the reality is that income levels are also much lower here. Homeownership rates are far below the Hoosier State average, with only 59% of South Benders owning their own homes, compared to 76% statewide.
Let’s break it down even further. According to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, two working adults should budget the following amounts annually for typical living expenses:
- Food: $7,597
- Medical expenses: $6,865
- Housing: $11,101
- Transportation: $11,585
- Civic expenses: $5,504
- Internet/mobile services: $2,058
- Miscellaneous expenses: $7,900
- Taxes: $8,401
This requires a minimum, pre-tax household income of $61,012 — several thousand above the average earnings in the city.
Wondering how much it might cost to move from your current city to South Bend? Start a quote today.
Working in South Bend: Local Job Market and Top Industries
The last 12 months in South Bend have brought measurable improvements to this Indiana region. In April of 2024, the unemployment rate here had climbed to 4.3%, but one year later, rates have fallen to just 3.5% — almost half a point below the national average.
Several industries experienced noticeable gains during this period, including smaller sectors like mining, logging and construction (+4.9%) and robust areas like education and health services (+4.5%) — the city’s most dominant arena. Trade, transportation and utilities; leisure and hospitality; and manufacturing all stayed on the sunny side of the ledger from April 2024–April 2025. Overall, the South Bend-Elkhart region added 2,600 jobs to its nonfarm, civilian workforce of 142,000.
If you’re planning a career move to South Bend, you’ll have a wide array of employers to choose from. Academic and healthcare powerhouses like Notre Dame and Indiana University South Bend lead the pack while commercial entities like Honeywell Aerospace, Crowe LLP and Whirlpool support diverse talent within the region. Agribusiness is one of the, ahem, cornerstones of this breadbasket city, but the logistics, advanced manufacturing and even nanotechnology sectors are all growing in this fertile terrain.
One downside to living here is that South Benders earn less than their state and national counterparts. The median household income in South Bend is $52,512 — almost $20K below Indiana as a whole and nearly $30K below the national median. See what the typical earnings are in South Bend for your career area.
Finding the Perfect Neighborhood in South Bend
For a city of 100,000, South Bend has a surprising range of neighborhood vibes, from intensely coed-centric to nearly rural quiet. If you’re planning to move to this central Midwestern city, here are a few of our favorite spots to stay.
Stretched across the banks of the St. Joseph River, Downtown South Bend is an artsy, walkable destination with great restaurants, lofts and condos. Historic spots like the Oliver Mansion complement institutions like the South Bend Art Museum and the Morris Performing Arts Center, certifying downtown as a creative hub. One of the best downtown hangouts is the Dainty Maid Food Hall, where Revenant Coffee slings more than just jugs of java, it crafts caffeinated perfection. Our current beverage fave is the Lady of the Lake — an icy take on a London Fog that is mythologically satisfying to drink. We’re also partial to the Nashville Hot Al Pastor Nachos from Piñata, the halva chocolate chunk cookies from the South Bend Challah Company and the Pork Katsu Sando from The Breakfast Club. But the most unusual element downtown is the East Race Waterway — the very first human-made rapids in the country. These controlled white waters offer all the thrills of the real thing without the hassle of hauling your family out West or watching for rattlers. Still, with six-foot waves, you’ll need to wear a life jacket and a helmet to paddle here.
If you’re looking for more of an urbanish existence, the Near Northwest neighborhood keeps you close to downtown with the bonus of single-family dwellings. Many of the historic homes here are former fixer-uppers with price tags to show it. Others have good bones, if bare ones — scallop-shingled beauties you can buy for a song and lovingly restore. Local haunts, like the No. 6, trade on the innate charms of the Historic District, turning a retired fire station into a swanky watering hole with craft cocktails and elegant eats. Word-nerds can get their mind-fix at Brain Lair Books, where you can join the Octavia Butler Club, the Gender Fluid Book Club or even the Only Murders in the Brain Book Club — whatever makes your literary heart go pitter-patter. Take your newest page-turner to Leeper Park, where the restored Studebaker Fountain and rose garden offer an easy respite from the trials of the workweek.
On the opposite banks of the St. Joe, River Park claims one of the city’s oldest establishments — the South Bend Farmer’s Market. Way back in 1911, farmers sold their harvests from the Colfax Bridge, but a dedicated building was ultimately constructed for the popular trading post in 1972. You can buy everything from Michiana-roasted coffee beans to fiddlehead ferns to fresh, local cream. Heck, you might even be able to meet the milk cow that made it. True to its name, River Park is adjacent to the water and great green spaces like the Potawatomi Conservatories — the city’s lush botanical gardens. Single families here are modest and affordable, and many of the older buildings have oodles of historic charm.
Northwest of Notre Dame University, the sprawling suburb of Granger offers newer homes and larger lots than you’ll find in town. Now, there are still some dreamy, 19th-century numbers out here — Georgian and Italianate beauties built by VIPs of yore — but 21st-century, move-in-ready, go-play-in-the-yard homes dominate this area. Granger is about 30 minutes from downtown but so close to the border that some of your neighbors will be Michiganders. Housing prices here are nearly double what they are in the city of South Bend, so be prepared to spend more and drive more than you would closer to the city.
What ‘s There to Do in South Bend? So Much More Than You’d Expect!
With two major universities, dozens of museums, and 75 parks, South Bend is more than just another college town — it’s a destination for fun.
Newcomers can get acquainted with the region’s past at The History Museum of South Bend, where stubble-raising exhibitions like “Fantastic Facial Hair,” comb through whisker dos and don’ts — from Honest Abe’s beard to mid-century pencil moustaches. But it’s the permanent collection here that really raises some eyebrows. This institution’s eclectic archives include everything from gang plows and Gothic Revival doors to political pins (Vote Colfax!), cloth banners (Vote Colfax!) and ambrotypes of — you guessed it — Schuyler Colfax, a whig who served in the House of Representatives and went on to become the Vice President of the United States under Ulysses S. Grant.
Detroit isn’t the only town in the Midwest with claims as a motor city, thanks to the Studebakers, and autophiles can spend many a lazy Saturday car-gazing at the Studebaker National Museum. This manufacturing family got their start before the automobile was even invented, which may be why they have the largest collection of U.S. presidential carriages in the world — coveted bragging rights, indeed! But if President McKinley’s horse-drawn Phaeton doesn’t get your hooves stomping, the motorized steeds of chrome and steel surely will.
In the summertime, when the Fighting Irish aren’t battling, the South Bend Cubs will satisfy your craving for competitive sports. This MiLB feeder team for Chicago plays at the award-winning Four Winds Field, where the tickets are under $20, and the bratwurst and beer taste like summer, perfected.
The warmer months are also the perfect time to enjoy the Potawatomi Zoo, which was founded way back in 1902, making it one of the oldest in the state. You can see creatures old and young, here, from Hadassah — a Masai giraffe born in 2024, weighing in at 135 pounds and measuring six feet tall — to the resident Galapagos tortoises, Floreana and Isabela, who just might outlive us all, with their 200-year lifespan.
But South Bend shines brightest after dark — if you’re gazing at the River Lights, that is. Each evening before dusk, the St. Joseph River and Jefferson Boulevard Bridge are illuminated by colorful auras that turn the water into a kaleidoscopic basin, where a large sculpture by Mark di Suvero rises from the rapids. You can catch this dazzling display from various points around the waterway, but we love the view from downtown Island Park.
When you need a break from The Bend, take a day trip to Chicago or — better yet — a spot on the eastern shores of the lake, like Michigan City. In this tiny beach town famous for its lighthouse, you can spend the day sailing, paddle-boarding or hiking at Indiana Dunes National Park. This under-loved spot has trails through prairielands, bogs and oak savannas, so you can bathe in all of nature’s glories, here — not just the forest.
Moving to South Bend? 3 Tips for a Stress-Free Move
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Whether you’re moving cross-country or across the street, Mayflower’s full-service moving packages simplify the moving process to save you time and stress. Every full-service move is managed by a personal move coordinator, and our professional teams are licensed for interstate moves.
We can also customize your move with services like packing and unpacking, storage, debris removal and car shipping — we can even help with furniture assembly. These can be especially helpful if you’re moving long distance.
If you’re moving within Indiana or the South Bend region, Mayflower’s interstate Indiana agents/movers can assist you with local moves independently under their own businesses and brands.
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