What percentage of people rent in South Bend, IN?

Name: Renters and owners in South Bend, IN, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

39.8% (±1.7 points) of the occupied homes in South Bend, IN are rented (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is 16,421 renting households against 24,861 that own their home.

In South Bend, the share of households that rent went from 42.8% in 2015–2019 to 39.8% in 2020–2024 (−3.0 percentage points), a measurable decrease.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Households that rent: 39.8% (±1.7 points)
Renting households: 16,421 (±852)
Median renter income: $39,140 (±$3,384)

Who rents and who owns in South Bend

Tenure, estimate (90% margin of error)
	South Bend	St. Joseph County	Indiana	United States
Renter-occupied share	39.8% (±1.7 points)	31.0% (±1.0 points)	29.4% (±0.3 points)	34.8%
Renting households	16,421 (±852)	33,230 (±1,040)	799,766 (±7,038)	45,017,354
Owning households	24,861 (±839)	74,022 (±1,128)	1,916,243 (±9,865)	84,210,142
Average renter household size	2.4 (±0.1)	2.2 (±0.1)	2.2 (±0.0)	2.3
Average owner household size	2.5 (±0.1)	2.6 (±0.0)	2.6 (±0.0)	2.6
Median renter household income	$39,140 (±$3,384)	$42,214 (±$2,546)	$42,811 (±$480)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$70,659 (±$3,186)	$81,171 (±$1,781)	$87,459 (±$395)	$100,009

In South Bend, the renter share is higher than in St. Joseph County (31.0%).

It is also higher than in Indiana (29.4%).

It is higher than the national figure (34.8%).

In St. Joseph County, South Bend ranks 5 of 24 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest renter share.

Statewide, it ranks 104 of 1,600.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

How renting in South Bend has changed since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Households that rent	42.8% (±1.3 points)	39.8% (±1.7 points)	−3.0 percentage points	Measurable decrease
Median gross rent	$789 (±$16)	$1,033 (±$30)	+30.9%	Up after inflation
Median household income	$40,265 (±$1,208)	$55,786 (±$1,639)	+38.5%	Up after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Households that rent in places near South Bend

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with South Bend
Place	Distance	Households that rent	Compared with this place
South Bend	—	39.8% (±1.7 points)	—
Portage Township (St. Joseph County)	0.6 mi	39.5% (±2.0 points)	Not measurably different
Notre Dame	2.3 mi	95.7% (±5.7 points)	Higher
Roseland	3.0 mi	72.4% (±7.6 points)	Higher
Ardmore	3.1 mi	17.6% (±11.3 points)	Lower
Indian Village	3.2 mi	28.6% (±30.0 points)	Not measurably different
German Township (St. Joseph County)	4.0 mi	30.6% (±3.9 points)	Lower
Clay Township (St. Joseph County)	4.4 mi	33.5% (±2.8 points)	Lower
Gilmer Park	4.4 mi	6.2% (±7.2 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Ardmore, IN (17.6%), German Township (St. Joseph County), IN (30.6%), Clay Township (St. Joseph County), IN (33.5%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Notre Dame, IN (95.7%), Roseland, IN (72.4%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Households that rent across St. Joseph County, place by place

Rank	Place	Households that rent
1	Notre Dame	95.7% (±5.7 points)
2	Roseland	72.4% (±7.6 points)
3	Lakeville	56.5% (±11.2 points)
4	Mishawaka	50.7% (±2.3 points)
5	South Bend	39.8% (±1.7 points)
6	Portage Township (St. Joseph County)	39.5% (±2.0 points)
7	Penn Township (St. Joseph County)	33.7% (±2.0 points)
8	Clay Township (St. Joseph County)	33.5% (±2.8 points)
9	Walkerton	30.8% (±6.9 points)
10	German Township (St. Joseph County)	30.6% (±3.9 points)
11	Indian Village	28.6% (±30.0 points)

Showing 11 of 24 places in St. Joseph County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about South Bend

How many renters are there in South Bend?

South Bend has an estimated 16,421 (±852) renting households, 39.8% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Is renting growing in South Bend?

In South Bend, the share of households that rent went from 42.8% in 2015–2019 to 39.8% in 2020–2024 (−3.0 percentage points), a measurable decrease.

How big are renting households in South Bend?

A renting household in South Bend has 2.4 people on average, against 2.5 in an owned home.

How much do renters earn in South Bend?

The median renting household in South Bend, IN has an income of $39,140 (±$3,384) a year, against $70,659 for households that own their home.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for South Bend city, Indiana (place:71000, in state:18).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B19013_001E, B19013_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0047E, DP04_0047M, DP04_0046E, DP04_0046M, DP04_0049E, DP04_0049M, DP04_0048E, DP04_0048M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.