South Bend-Mishawaka Tops 200-Metro Summer 2026 Housing Ranking at $341,000 Median Price
Updated
Updated · Realtor.com News · Jul 24
South Bend-Mishawaka Tops 200-Metro Summer 2026 Housing Ranking at $341,000 Median Price
3 articles · Updated · Realtor.com News · Jul 24
Summary
South Bend-Mishawaka held the No. 1 spot for a third straight quarter in the WSJ/Realtor.com summer ranking, which scored 200 U.S. metros on housing conditions, economic health and livability.
A $341,000 median listing price and 3.7% unemployment helped put the Indiana-Michigan metro first as the ranking favored markets where affordability, steady demand, tight supply and long-term value still align.
Sixteen of the top 20 markets also ranked in the spring top 20, underscoring the dominance of Midwest and Northeast metros as the South and West moved toward more balanced buyer-seller conditions.
Affordability remains the key divide: households in top-ranked markets are on average 8.1% below the income needed to buy a median home, versus 19.6% below across the 200 largest metros.
Nationally, Realtor.com expects mortgage rates to average about 6.3% in 2026, with home sales and prices edging higher and rents falling, though affordability will remain strained.