South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership Releases State of the Region Report
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (October 9, 2025) – The South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership (Regional Partnership) released the inaugural edition of the State of the Region report. The report looks at statistics within the five-county region, Michigan and Indiana, and national levels, in categories based on people, place, prosperity, and goals for the region.
“The State of the Region report gives us a clear, data-driven picture of where we stand today and where we are headed tomorrow,” said Bethany Hartley, President & CEO of the Regional Partnership. “While the numbers reflect both progress and challenges, what stands out most is our region’s resilience and momentum. From positive population growth to rising educational attainment and increasing industrial space, we are building the foundation for long-term prosperity.”
Highlights in the report include:
- Population growth rebounded slightly after recent declines, with increasing racial diversity across the region.
- Educational attainment rose, with 28 percent of residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Median home prices stabilized, while new construction activity reached a three-year high.
- Industrial development expanded, even as office space demand declined.
- Wages grew 4.8 percent overall, with especially strong gains in healthcare and logistics roles.
The data in the report is compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, TEConomy, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Lightcast, Lumina Foundation, U.S. Census Bureau and more.
To learn more about the report, click here. Printed copies are available at the Regional Partnership offices.
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About the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership
The South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership seeks to unify and collaborate so that together, the communities across the region to work together to achieve what cannot be done individually. For more information about the Regional Partnership, visit SouthBendElkhart.org.
Media Contact
Liz Folkerts
South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership