Residential comparison · 13 facts
Elkhart, IN vs South Bend, IN
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Elkhart needs about $84,500 in South Bend to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from South Bend, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $85,500 in Elkhart.
A few differences
- South Bend is higher on median household income ($55,786 vs $51,028).
- Elkhart is lower on cost of living index (76 vs 77).
- Elkhart is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($983/mo vs $1,035/mo).
Elkhart vs South Bend · facet by facet
| Facet | Elkhart, IN | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $139,500 | $140,400 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $983/mo | $1,035/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.83% | 0.83% |
| State & local income tax | 4.75% | 4.8% |
| Sales tax | 7% | 7% |
| Cost of living index | 76 | 77 |
| Groceries index | 95 | 95 |
| Utilities | $165/mo | $165/mo |
| Median household income | $51,028 | $55,786 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.6% |
| Crime index | 45/100 | 45/100 |
| School rating | 5.8/10 | 5.8/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 190 days | 190 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Elkhart, IN · South Bend, IN
Questions & answers
- Is Elkhart cheaper than South Bend?
- Elkhart has the lower day-to-day cost index (76 vs 77 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in South Bend equals $85,000 in Elkhart?
- A household earning $85,000 in Elkhart needs about $84,500 in South Bend to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of South Bend lifestyle costs about $85,500 in Elkhart.