South Bend-Mishawaka receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
South Bend-Mishawaka
Kalamazoo-Portage
Opportunity
49 · Bottom 35%
vs39 · Bottom 17%
Growth
52 · Top 46%
vs36 · Bottom 28%
Climate
61 · Bottom 30%
vs62 · Bottom 34%
Physical resilience
93 · Top 2%
vs93 · Top 3%
Housing affordability
98 · Top 34%
vs96 · Top 45%
Access
98 · Top 5%
vs96 · Top 13%
Economic stability
56 · Top 43%
vs75 · Top 19%
Measured values
| Metric | South Bend-Mishawaka | Kalamazoo-Portage | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 324,560 | 262,375 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $67,217 | $72,532 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,216 | $41,530 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 342/sq mi | 467/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $196,600 | $241,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,046 | $1,093 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.1% | 64.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.1% | -7.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.5% | 41.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | 12.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,058 | 438 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.3 | 1.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 21.3% | 2.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 17°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 39.2" | 33.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 11 mi | 15 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 22.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.9 | 35.0 | 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.
Physical risk tradeoff
South Bend-Mishawaka
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Kalamazoo-Portage
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado, strong wind.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
South Bend-Mishawaka
73
Your Score
70
Area Score
Kalamazoo-Portage
71
Your Score
66
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI Metro Area · Kalamazoo-Portage, MI Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology