2025 Compare Cities Economy:
Grand Rapids, MI vs South Bend, IN

Change Cities
Highlights
- Household income in South Bend, is 17% less than it is in Grand Rapids and is 50% below the National Average.
- Grand Rapids unemployment rate is 6.3%.
- South Bend unemployment rate is 6.9%.
 Grand Rapids, MISouth Bend, INUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.9%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock1.8%1.6%
 Future Job Growth35.8%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes6.0%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock5.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$29,060  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$46,002$69,021
 Family Median Income$70,070  Unlock$85,028
 space
 Est. Households By Income
 Grand Rapids, MISouth Bend, INUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock14.8%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K4.8%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock12.2%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K9.0%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock11.1%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K8.8%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock9.6%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K14.1%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock11.1%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K4.1%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock3.0%9.5%
 space1
 Population By Occupation
 Grand Rapids, MISouth Bend, INUnited States
 Management, business, finance14.2%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock4.3%6.5%
 Community, social services2.2%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock0.9%1.2%
 Education, library5.4%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock2.2%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology6.1%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock3.1%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement1.3%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock6.5%5.4%
 Building maintenance3.5%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock2.8%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support19.9%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.1%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair5.3%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock20.2%13.1%
Reviews for Grand Rapids    62 Reviews

I've lived in Grand Rapids about 85% of my life and can confidently say it is a great place to live for anyone. I know countless people who dogged the city, moved  More

   |    Reply

Grand Rapids proper - the small city - is fairly OK. Nothing special stands out about it when judged against the nicer areas of the US, but it has some decent dining and  More

   |    Reply

Wow. “bland Rapids and everyone is Smug, uptight and part of the Christian Reformed Church. “ Someone is accurately describing Grand Rapids in 1985. Much has changed  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Grand Rapids

Reviews for South Bend    25 Reviews

When it comes to standard of living, neighborhoods, safety, schools, wage earners and tax dollar contributing citizens Mishawaka hands down, will always made better  More

   |    Reply

Moving here is much harder than growing up here, I know from many people I've talked to. When you grow up here you learn how to interact with people, everyone will seem  More

   |    Reply

I’ve lived in the city for 4 years now and have honestly had a good experience so far. I live in a quite neighborhood and have had no issues with crime or violence.  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of South Bend


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.