South Bend, Indiana Population 2023

103,006

South Bend is a city located in St. Joseph County Indiana. It is also the county seat of St. Joseph County. With a 2023 population of 103,006, it is the 5th largest city in Indiana and the 311th largest city in the United States.South Bend is currently declining at a rate of -0.17% annually and its population has decreased by -0.5% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 103,527 in 2020. Spanning over 42 miles, South Bend has a population density of 2,455 people per square mile.

The average household income in South Bend is $57,529 with a poverty rate of 26.86%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in South Bend is 33.7 years, 32.7 years for males, and 35.1 years for females.

South Bend is a city located in the state of Indiana. It serves as the county seat for St. Joseph County. Today, the city is a hub of economics and culture in the Northern Indiana area.

South Bend Population Statistics

The city’s largest employer is the University of Notre Dame, which provides over 5,000 jobs. Beacon Medical Group, South Bend Community School Corporation, AM General and Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center are other top employers in South Bend.

South Bend Population Growth

The decline of manufacturing affected South Bend’s population significantly. The population peaked in 1960 at 132,445 residents. However, by the time of the 1970 census, that number had dropped by 5%. The city continued to see significant drops in population, falling to 101,166 at the time of the 2010 census. Recent estimates show that the population has risen 0.6% since the last poll. Though this number is small, it is promising. The city’s efforts to attract new businesses and industries could put it back on track to increase its population in the years ahead.

The region was first inhabited by tribes including the Miami and Potawatomi people. Europeans first settled the area during the 19th century, when trading posts in the South Bend area were established. By the 1830s, the area was becoming more populated. In 1830, it was given the name South Bend.

Just one year later, the city was laid out to be a county seat. The town was also being designed and in 1835 was established. Like many other cities during this time, South Bend became more industrialized. There were many factories built along the St. Joseph River and in 1851, a steam locomotive arrived. The 19th century saw continued growth with the establishment of companies including Studebaker, Singer Sewing Company and Oliver Chilled Plow Company. The population and the city continued to grow, and many Europeans immigrated to the area to work in the factories. In 1842, the University of Notre Dame was founded, helping to boost the economy. In 1865, South Bend was incorporated as a city.

The city continued to grow larger during the 20th century with the arrival of more industries, including South Bend Watch Company, Bendix Corporation, and Honeywell. Electric rail service was available, later followed by an electronic trolley system.

However, the city faced troubles with the decline of the manufacturing industry. In 1950, over half of the employment was in manufacturing. However, by 2000, it represented just 16% of jobs. Job loss led to a decline in population.

Today, the company is trying to revitalize and attract residents by turning to the tech industry. New businesses are setting up shop, and in 2015, positive population growth was recorded for the first time in almost 50 years.

South Bend Demographics

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of South Bend was:

  • White: 59.95%
  • Black or African American: 25.37%
  • Two or more races: 6.99%
  • Other race: 5.34%
  • Asian: 1.82%
  • Native American: 0.48%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.05%
The current population of South Bend, Indiana is 103,006 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 103,527.

South Bend, Indiana Population 2023

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South Bend Metro Area Population by Year

Population by Race

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White

Black or African American

Two or more races

Other race

Asian

Native American

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

South Bend Population by Race

South Bend Population Pyramid 2023

South Bend Median Age

33.7

Total

32.7

Male

35.1

Female

South Bend Adults

There are 75,074 adults, (13,973 of whom are seniors) in South Bend.

South Bend Age Dependency

68.1

Age Dependency Ratio

22.9

Old Age Dependency Ratio

45.2

Child Dependency Ratio

South Bend Sex Ratio

Female53,96752.56%
Male48,71947.44%

South Bend Population by Age

South Bend Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

3.36

Average Family Size

2.5

Average Household Size

57.6%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

South Bend Households and Families

Male

Female

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Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

South Bend Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

South Bend Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

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The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 100%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 35.06%.

South Bend Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

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$32,792

Average Earnings

$37,611

Average Male

$27,472

Average Female

South Bend Earnings by Educational Attainment

South Bend Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

South Bend Language

85.4% of South Bend residents speak only English, while 14.6% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 10.93% of the population.

South Bend Language

South Bend Poverty by Race

rate

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26.86%

Overall Poverty Rate

19.68%

Male Poverty Rate

23.06%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in South Bend

The race most likely to be in poverty in South Bend is Black, with 44.75% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in South Bend is White, with 16.15% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 4.51%. Among those working part-time, it was 25.35%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 32.33%.

South Bend Poverty

rate

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South Bend Poverty Rate by Education

rate

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South Bend Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

South Bend Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

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mean

median

Income by Household Type

South Bend Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

36.4%

Overall Marriage Rate

38.9%

Male Marriage Rate

34.1%

Female Marriage Rate

South Bend Married by Age and Sex

male

female

South Bend Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is 35-44, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.

South Bend Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

South Bend Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

4,660

Number of Veterans

4,321

Male Veterans

339

Female Veterans

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South Bend Veterans by War

count

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South Bend Veterans by Age

count

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South Bend Veterans by Race

South Bend Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

14.95%

Veteran Poverty Rate

28.96%

Veteran Disability Rate

South Bend Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

63.5%

Labor Force Participation

59.6%

Employment Rate

6%

Unemployment Rate

South Bend Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

South Bend Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

South Bend Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

61.32%

Born in South Bend

90.68%

Native Born

8.51%

Foreign Born

5.67%

Non Citizen

2.83%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

90.68% of South Bend residents were born in the United States, with 61.32% having been born in Indiana. 5.67% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.

South Bend Place of Birth

Note: data after 2021 is projected based on recent change
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South Bend Population by Year