Elkhart-Goshen and South Bend-Mishawaka receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Elkhart-Goshen
South Bend-Mishawaka
Opportunity
58 · Top 46%
vs49 · Bottom 35%
Growth
52 · Top 46%
vs52 · Top 46%
Climate
62 · Bottom 34%
vs61 · Bottom 30%
Physical resilience
84 · Top 10%
vs93 · Top 2%
Housing affordability
98 · Top 34%
vs98 · Top 34%
Access
89 · Top 26%
vs98 · Top 5%
Economic stability
67 · Top 29%
vs56 · Top 43%
Measured values
| Metric | Elkhart-Goshen | South Bend-Mishawaka | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 207,132 | 324,560 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $68,561 | $67,217 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,936 | $37,216 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 447/sq mi | 342/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $210,400 | $196,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,047 | $1,046 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.6% | 71.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.3% | -1.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.1% | 31.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.4% | 13.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 642 | 1,058 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.1 | 3.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 12.0% | 21.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 17°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.6" | 39.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 25 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 23.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.6 | 37.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Elkhart-Goshen
73
Your Score
71
Area Score
South Bend-Mishawaka
73
Your Score
70
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Elkhart-Goshen, IN Metro Area · South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology