Notre Dame neighborhood blends academic legacy with quiet living
The University of Notre Dame campus is just north of South Bend, Indiana, and the neighborhood immediately surrounding the school shares its name. “It has a pretty amazing culture,” says Adam Pendl, Realtor and team leader of Pendl Real Estate brokered by eXp Realty, whose office is in the area. “If you’re at a football game or just interacting with someone who went to school there, you know that school spirit runs deep in their blood.”
The university's collegiate Gothic architecture can be seen in many buildings on campus, including Basilica of the Sacred Heart, which is often noted for its stained glass windows. The picturesque campus is a major tourist destination in the area. “I have clients who went to Notre Dame, and had successful careers, but want to retire in South Bend just to be close to campus because they love it so much from their college days,” Pendl says. “Summer and fall are great, but winters are pretty tough here, so they’re not moving for the weather.”
New condos and townhouses reshape the housing market
Nearly 90% of residents in the area rent. “I have a lot of clients who buy short-term rental properties near campus and rent them out and do really well,” Pendl says.
However, over half of the housing in the neighborhood around the campus is condos, and some single-family homes are available. “The residential area around campus has been really revitalized,” Pendl says. “Now there are million-dollar houses scattered throughout the area, and it’s all happened within the last 10 years. There’s a lot of new development and new condos." Single-family homes range from $270,000 to $900,000, with the occasional house climbing into the millions. Condos start at $610,000 and go up to $1.5 million, while townhouses are priced between $885,000 to over $1.5 million.
Adams High is an International Baccalaureate magnet school
Most young students in the neighborhood attend Darden Elementary and then Jefferson Traditional School for grades 6 through 8, both of which get a C from Niche. Adams High has an A-minus rating and is an International Baccalaureate magnet school. Parents can also choose to enroll their children in regional and district-wide programs.
The University of Notre Dame is a private, mid-sized Catholic university that gets an A-plus from Niche. It is ranked the best college in the state, and the 25th best college in the country, out of over 1,600 colleges. The community is also home to Saint Mary's College and Holy Cross College.
Ice arena, golf course and stadium open to the public
The Irish Green is a 20-acre park on the edge of campus and South Bend’s Northeast Neighborhood. It features multiple gardens, a playground and a campus Christmas tree in the winter. DeBartolo Performing Arts Center overlooks the green. St. Mary's Lake and St. Joseph's Lake are spring-fed lakes with walking and jogging trails that are used by residents and students.
Notre Dame Stadium is home to the Fighting Irish football team. Compton Family Ice Arena is open to the public. It offers skating lessons for kids and hosts University of Notre Dame hockey games. Burke Golf Course has a public 18-hole course with different fees for students, alums and the general public.
Campus-adjacent dining includes pubs and national chains
Shopping and dining are close to campus. Legends is a university-owned restaurant and alehouse pub that’s open to all. “Eddy Street Commons is a pretty happening place,” Pendl says. “You have businesses and condos on the upper level and storefronts lining the street.” The Commons has chain restaurants, including Chipotle and Dave’s Hot Chicken, Urban Outfitters and Trader Joe’s. Larger shopping centers like Wilshire Plaza of Mishawaka are a few miles away.
Walkability near campus with bus and shuttle options available
The immediate area around campus is walkable and bike-friendly, but a car might be needed farther out. Route 7 on Transpo’s bus route goes to campus as well as Eddy Street Commons. Several shuttles travel to nearby airports, including South Bend International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Amtrak, Greyhound, and Megabus buses are also available. Chicago is about 100 miles west on Interstate 90. Pendl says that traffic is fairly mild, even on game days.
