Uprootmap
South Bend vs Elkhart
South Bend and Elkhart
Photo: Nyttend / Wikimedia, Public domain
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Elkhart are under the US rate in this release, 5.6 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at South Bend to Elkhart
In 2022-2023, 1,291 households filed a move from South Bend to Elkhart (about 2,337 people, average adjusted gross income $56,721). 1,384 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,005 in South Bend and $884 in Elkhart. South Bend has a state tax on wages. Elkhart has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Elkhart is 89% of the national level for the same work, against 87% in South Bend.
Elkhart averages 181 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 24°F. South Bend is 181 sunny days, 81°F in July, 25°F in January. Commutes average 19 minutes in Elkhart and 22 in South Bend.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 1,291 households moved South Bend → Elkhart (about 2,337 people, average AGI $56,721). 1,384 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between South Bend and Elkhart changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 22 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,550–$2,900
- Container or pod
- $1,050–$1,950
- Rent a truck
- $350–$650
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Dig into Elkhart
Questions
Is Elkhart cheaper than South Bend after tax and rent?
Yes. Elkhart leaves about $69 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,005 in South Bend and $884 in Elkhart.
Does Elkhart have state income tax?
Elkhart is in Indiana, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 1.50%.
Did people actually move from South Bend to Elkhart?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.