What are the schools like in South Bend, WA?

South Bend is served primarily by South Bend School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 30.9:1.

What is the median household income in South Bend?

The median household income in South Bend, WA is $45,156 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.2%.

What is the weather like in South Bend, WA?

South Bend has an average high temperature of 47.9°F in January and 71.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 83.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.1 inches.

South Bend, WA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is South Bend, WA affordable or expensive?

South Bend's cost of living index is 100, where 100 represents the national average. This means South Bend is 0% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $218,500 and the median rent is $891 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in South Bend, WA?

South Bend has a violent crime rate of 112.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 337.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is South Bend, WA a Good Place to Live?

South Bend is a small town of 1,859 in Washington, with a median household income of $45,156 and a 1.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 100 (US average = 100), which is right at the national average.

Strengths: South Bend stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether South Bend is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All South Bend city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 100.0

South Bend's overall cost of living index is 100.0, where 100 represents the US national average. South Bend's cost of living is right at the national average.

Metric	South Bend, WA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$218,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$891	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$45,156	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

South Bend's violent crime rate is 112.6 per 100,000 residents — 70% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

112.6 /100k

Property Crime

337.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

South Bend is served primarily by South Bend School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 30.9:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	South Bend, WA	National Avg
School District	South Bend School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	30.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	83.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

South Bend sees average highs of 47.9°F in January and 71.4°F in July, with 83.6 inches of annual precipitation and 1.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	South Bend, WA
Average High — January	47.9°F
Average High — July	71.4°F
Annual Precipitation	83.6"
Annual Snowfall	1.1"

Demographics

Metric	South Bend, WA	National Avg
Population	1,859	—
Median Age	44.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	56.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	22.9%	18.9%
Asian	5.2%	6.3%
Under 18	21.9%	22.2%
65 and over	20.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Raymond, WA 3 mi Willapa, WA 7 mi Bay Center, WA 8 mi Tokeland, WA 9 mi Lebam, WA 14 mi

ZIP Codes in South Bend

South Bend, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

98586

South Bend vs Other Cities

South Bend, WA vs Raymond, WA South Bend, WA vs Willapa, WA South Bend, WA vs Bay Center, WA South Bend, WA vs Tokeland, WA South Bend, WA vs Lebam, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is South Bend, WA affordable or expensive?

South Bend's cost of living index is 100, where 100 is the national average. The median home price is $218,500 and median rent is $891/month.

What is the crime rate in South Bend, WA?

South Bend's violent crime rate is 112.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 337.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in South Bend?

Public schools in South Bend are operated by South Bend School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 30.9:1. 17.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is South Bend, WA a good place to live?

South Bend, WA has a population of 1,859, a median household income of $45,156, and an unemployment rate of 1.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in South Bend?

South Bend averages 47.9°F in January and 71.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 83.6 inches with about 1.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in South Bend?

South Bend, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 98586.

What is the population of South Bend?

The population of South Bend, Washington is 1,859 with a median age of 44.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in South Bend?

Key numbers for living in South Bend: cost of living index 100 (100 = US average), median home $218,500, median household income $45,156, crime index 24 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare South Bend side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.