Economic Growth Region 2
Largest City: South Bend (2024 population: 103,713)
Population per Square Mile: 277.9
Square Miles: 2,264.5
| Population over Time | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Yesterday (2020) | 626,774 | 5 | 9.2% | 6,785,528 |
| Today (2025) | 629,217 | 5 | 9.0% | 6,973,333 |
| Tomorrow (2030 projection)* | 629,491 | 5 | 9.0% | 7,013,509 |
| Percent Change 2020 to Today | 0.4% | 11 | | 2.8% |
*Projection based on 2020 Census population estimates.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Components of Population Change, 2024-2025 | Number | Rank of 12 | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Net Domestic Migration | -1,907 | 10 | | 12,197 |
| Net International Migration | 1,495 | 4 | | 17,852 |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | 1,134 | 4 | 13.2% | 8,561 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Population Estimates by Age, 2024 | Number | Rank of 12 | Pct Dist.
in Region | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Preschool (0 to 4) | 39,146 | 5 | 6.2% | 5.9% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 112,900 | 5 | 18.0% | 17.0% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 63,429 | 6 | 10.1% | 9.7% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 157,735 | 5 | 25.1% | 25.9% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 144,703 | 5 | 23.0% | 23.9% |
| Seniors (65 and older) | 110,404 | 5 | 17.6% | 17.5% |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2024 | Number | Rank of 12 | Pct Dist.
in Region | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native Alone | 4,198 | 3 | 0.7% | 0.5% |
| Asian Alone | 12,941 | 6 | 2.1% | 3.1% |
| Black Alone | 52,862 | 5 | 8.4% | 10.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 548 | 6 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| White | 539,831 | 5 | 85.9% | 83.2% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 17,937 | 5 | 2.9% | 2.5% |
| Non-Hispanic | 538,516 | 5 | 85.7% | 90.9% |
| Hispanic | 89,801 | 3 | 14.3% | 9.1% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Household Types | Number | Rank of 12 | Pct Dist.
in Region | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Households in 2024 (includes detail not shown below) | 237,304 | 5 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Married With Children | 42,233 | 7 | 17.8% | 17.9% |
| Married Without Children | 71,437 | 5 | 30.1% | 29.3% |
| Single Parents | 20,642 | 1 | 8.7% | 8.8% |
| Living Alone | 71,086 | 3 | 30.0% | 29.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Housing | Number | Rank of 12 | Pct Dist.
in Region | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Total Housing Units in 2024 (estimate) | 269,844 | 5 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Housing Units in 2024 (includes vacant units) | 267,632 | 5 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Owner Occupied (Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 170,362 | 5 | 63.7% | 64.4% |
| Renter Occupied (Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 66,942 | 5 | 25.0% | 26.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Education | Number | Rank of 12 | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| School Enrollment (2024/2025 Total Reported) | 102,206 | 5 | 9.0% | 1,132,621 |
| Public | 90,287 | 5 | 8.7% | 1,033,552 |
Sources: Indiana Department of Education; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Income and Poverty | Number | Rank of 12 | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Per Capita Personal Income (annual) in 2023 | $57,418 | 4 | 93.8% | $61,243 |
| Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 2025 | 347 | 6 | 7.1% | 4,863 |
| Food Stamp Recipients in 2025 | 50,562 | 5 | 8.7% | 578,293 |
| Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2024/2025 | 44,719 | 5 | 9.2% | 488,145 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Family Social Services Administration; Indiana Department of Education
| Health and Vital Statistics | Number | Rank of 12 | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Births, 2021 | 7,883 | 5 | 9.9% | 79,946 |
| Births to Teens, 2021 | 454 | 3 | 11.8% | 3,845 |
| Deaths, 2019 | 6,036 | 5 | 9.1% | 66,005 |
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
| Labor Force, 2024 | Number | Rank of 12 | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Total Resident Labor Force | 300,842 | 5 | 8.7% | 3,472,118 |
| Employed | 286,430 | 5 | 8.6% | 3,332,175 |
| Unemployed | 14,412 | 5 | 10.3% | 139,943 |
| Annual Unemployment Rate | 4.8 | 2 | 120.0% | 4.0 |
| January 2026 Unemployment Rate | 3.2 | 7 | 97.0% | 3.3 |
Source: STATS Indiana, using data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
| Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2023 | Employment | Pct Dist.
in Region | Earnings ($000) | Pct Dist.
In Region | Avg. Earnings Per Job |
|---|
| Total by place of work | 419,015 | 100.0% | $28,019,249 | 100.0% | $66,869 |
| Wage and Salary | 343,709 | 82.0% | $20,323,382 | 72.5% | $59,130 |
| Farm Proprietors | 4,258 | 1.0% | $382,553 | 1.4% | $89,843 |
| Nonfarm Proprietors | 71,048 | 17.0% | $2,892,090 | 10.3% | $40,706 |
| Farm | 5,106 | 1.2% | $437,831 | 1.6% | $85,748 |
| Nonfarm | 413,909 | 98.8% | $27,581,418 | 98.4% | $66,636 |
| Private | 384,854 | 91.8% | $25,665,410 | 91.6% | $66,689 |
| Accommodation, Food Serv. | 24,337 | 5.8% | $697,385 | 2.5% | $28,655 |
| Arts, Ent., Recreation | 5,504 | 1.3% | $170,184 | 0.6% | $30,920 |
| Construction | 18,516 | 4.4% | $1,362,040 | 4.9% | $73,560 |
| Health Care, Social Serv. | 40,578* | 9.7%* | $3,097,439* | 11.1%* | $76,333* |
| Information | 3,059* | 0.7%* | $225,334* | 0.8%* | $73,663* |
| Manufacturing | 114,222 | 27.3% | $9,015,250 | 32.2% | $78,927 |
| Professional, Tech. Serv. | 14,448* | 3.4%* | $1,393,320* | 5.0%* | $96,437* |
| Retail Trade | 37,157 | 8.9% | $1,488,186 | 5.3% | $40,051 |
| Trans., Warehousing | 8,593* | 2.1%* | $770,224* | 2.7%* | $89,634* |
| Wholesale Trade | 18,573 | 4.4% | $1,949,189 | 7.0% | $104,947 |
| Other Private (not above) | 90,736* | 21.7%* | $5,396,221* | 19.3%* | $59,472* |
| Government | 29,055 | 6.9% | $1,916,008 | 6.8% | $65,944 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
* These totals do not include county data that are not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.
| Residential Building Permits, 2024 | Units | Pct Dist.
in Region | Pct Dist.
in State | Cost ($000) | State Cost ($000) |
|---|
| Total Permits Filed | 1,667 | 100.0% | 100.0% | $500,539 | $8,133,071 |
| Single-Family | 1,031 | 61.8% | 75.4% | $390,517 | $6,951,719 |
| 2-Family | 26 | 1.6% | 1.9% | $2,923 | $100,498 |
| 3- and 4-Family | 4 | 0.2% | 0.8% | $450 | $45,624 |
| 5+ Family | 606 | 36.4% | 21.9% | $106,649 | $1,035,231 |
Notes: Detail cost may not sum to total due to rounding. Greene County does not currently issue building permits, so it is excluded.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Largest Cities and Towns in Economic Growth Region 2
| Name | Population
in 2024 | Percent of Region |
|---|
| Bremen | 4,603 | 0.7% |
| Elkhart | 53,690 | 8.5% |
| Goshen | 34,458 | 5.5% |
| Mishawaka | 51,020 | 8.1% |
| Nappanee | 6,902 | 1.1%* |
| Plymouth | 11,042 | 1.8% |
| Rochester | 6,110 | 1.0% |
| South Bend | 103,713 | 16.5% |
| Warsaw | 16,111 | 2.6% |
| Winona Lake | 5,107 | 0.8% |
| * This place crosses county lines, so only population in this region is shown. |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates
Hoosiers by the Numbers