Indiana · GEOID 18141

St. Joseph County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 273,040 · 118,580 housing units

Median household income

$66,868

State $73,272

Median home value

$192,800

State $222,483

Median gross rent

$1,062

State $1,072

Homeownership rate

69.0%

State 70.6%

Renter cost-burden rate

49.1%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

15.8%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.8%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

6.1%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

9.6%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.88

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	St. Joseph County	Indiana
Population	273,040	6,851,073
Population density (per sq. mi.)	596.44	—
Median household income	$66,868	$73,272
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$88,100	—
Households	107,252	—
Average household size	2.44 people	—
Owner-occupied	69.0%	70.6%
Renter-occupied	31.0%	29.4%
Race	71.0% White · 12.5% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

St. Joseph County compared with Indiana.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

33.5% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 29.5%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	14.1%	$52,548	$1,314	$164,582
1 earner	31.9%	$60,184	$1,505	$193,006
2 earners	42.5%	$110,560	$2,764	$380,522
3+ earners	11.5%	$144,903	$3,623	$508,359

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

107,252

Average size: 2.44 people

Households with children

26,348

24.6% of households

Per-capita income

$36,834

Poverty rate: 13.0%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

69.0% owner-occupied vs. state average 70.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 77.0% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 15.0%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

64.0% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,968.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $192,800.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,062.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 11,328 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 5.0% · For rent 20.2% · Seasonal 10.7% · Other 44.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

44.3% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 55.7% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

1.0%

1,215 units of 118,580 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

4.3%

5,090 units of 118,580 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$53,494

100% MHI$66,868

120% MHI$80,242

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in St. Joseph County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$49,350	$56,400	$70,500
100% AMI	$61,670	$70,480	$88,100
120% AMI	$74,000	$84,600	$105,700

HUD FMR Area: South Bend-Mishawaka, IN HUD Metro FMR Area. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

49.1% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (24.5% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

15.8% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in St. Joseph County.

Covered employment

120,824

Across 18 sectors

Establishments

6,506

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$59,330

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	23,298	$62,008	$199,795	+$6,995	$1,550
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	15,205	$75,123	$248,614	+$55,814	$1,878
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	13,316	$36,634	$105,345	−$87,455	$916
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	13,078	$68,949	$225,632	+$32,832	$1,724
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	11,246	$23,424	$56,173	−$136,627	$586
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	5,641	$77,516	$257,521	+$64,721	$1,938
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	5,631	$73,944	$244,225	+$51,425	$1,849
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	5,029	$43,663	$131,509	−$61,291	$1,092
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	4,946	$81,985	$274,156	+$81,356	$2,050
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	4,465	$57,780	$184,057	−$8,743	$1,445
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	4,456	$60,741	$195,079	+$2,279	$1,519
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	3,917	$47,996	$147,638	−$45,162	$1,200
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	3,501	$89,912	$303,663	+$110,863	$2,248
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	2,708	$34,195	$96,266	−$96,534	$855
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	1,789	$57,435	$182,773	−$10,027	$1,436
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	1,526	$67,687	$220,934	+$28,134	$1,692
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	871	$110,966	$382,034	+$189,234	$2,774
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	201	$115,316	$398,226	+$205,426	$2,883

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	15,205	$75,123	$248,614	+$55,814	$1,878
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	10,150	$22,757	$53,690	−$139,110	$569
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	7,765	$77,042	$255,757	+$62,957	$1,926
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	7,398	$69,304	$226,953	+$34,153	$1,733
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	4,946	$81,985	$274,156	+$81,356	$2,050
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	4,800	$42,176	$125,974	−$66,826	$1,054
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	4,323	$39,985	$117,818	−$74,982	$1,000
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	3,833	$71,303	$234,394	+$41,594	$1,783
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	3,812	$42,198	$126,056	−$66,744	$1,055
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	3,782	$79,716	$265,710	+$72,910	$1,993
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	3,647	$59,150	$189,157	−$3,643	$1,479
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	3,337	$29,293	$78,019	−$114,781	$732
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	2,810	$69,362	$227,169	+$34,369	$1,734
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	2,295	$34,706	$98,168	−$94,632	$868
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	2,248	$26,829	$68,847	−$123,953	$671
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	2,139	$64,146	$207,754	+$14,954	$1,604
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	1,978	$55,326	$174,923	−$17,877	$1,383
NAICS 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing NAICS 336	1,781	$82,578	$276,364	+$83,564	$2,064
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	1,637	$70,592	$231,748	+$38,948	$1,765
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	1,603	$74,290	$245,513	+$52,713	$1,857
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	1,532	$64,910	$210,598	+$17,798	$1,623
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	1,457	$85,319	$286,567	+$93,767	$2,133
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	1,408	$60,465	$194,052	+$1,252	$1,512
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	1,323	$27,204	$70,243	−$122,557	$680
NAICS 326 Plastics and rubber products manufacturing NAICS 326	1,270	$57,217	$181,962	−$10,838	$1,430
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	1,264	$39,863	$117,364	−$75,436	$997
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	1,226	$43,067	$129,290	−$63,510	$1,077
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	1,160	$74,596	$246,652	+$53,852	$1,865
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	1,122	$39,963	$117,736	−$75,064	$999
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	1,096	$29,600	$79,162	−$113,638	$740
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	1,014	$64,672	$209,712	+$16,912	$1,617
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	1,004	$20,219	$44,242	−$148,558	$505
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	914	$70,884	$232,835	+$40,035	$1,772
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	871	$110,966	$382,034	+$189,234	$2,774
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	784	$98,848	$336,926	+$144,126	$2,471
NAICS 331 Primary metal manufacturing NAICS 331	763	$88,149	$297,101	+$104,301	$2,204
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	759	$47,518	$145,859	−$46,941	$1,188
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	709	$74,868	$247,665	+$54,865	$1,872
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	700	$42,309	$126,469	−$66,331	$1,058
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	681	$44,802	$135,749	−$57,051	$1,120
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	598	$42,989	$129,000	−$63,800	$1,075
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	597	$28,271	$74,215	−$118,585	$707
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	518	$48,979	$151,297	−$41,503	$1,224
NAICS 322 Paper manufacturing NAICS 322	506	$66,976	$218,288	+$25,488	$1,674
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	473	$73,829	$243,797	+$50,997	$1,846
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	456	$56,946	$180,953	−$11,847	$1,424
NAICS 334 Computer and electronic product manufacturing NAICS 334	437	$55,063	$173,944	−$18,856	$1,377
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	407	$76,650	$254,298	+$61,498	$1,916
NAICS 532 Rental and leasing services NAICS 532	381	$46,236	$141,087	−$51,713	$1,156
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	339	$54,689	$172,552	−$20,248	$1,367
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	336	$71,687	$235,824	+$43,024	$1,792
NAICS 518 Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services NAICS 518	326	$81,727	$273,196	+$80,396	$2,043
NAICS 335 Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing NAICS 335	315	$84,919	$285,078	+$92,278	$2,123
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	313	$78,564	$261,422	+$68,622	$1,964
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	302	$55,742	$176,471	−$16,329	$1,394
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	278	$89,400	$301,758	+$108,958	$2,235
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	273	$40,407	$119,389	−$73,411	$1,010
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	267	$54,279	$171,025	−$21,775	$1,357
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	253	$32,390	$89,547	−$103,253	$810
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	246	$57,197	$181,887	−$10,913	$1,430
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	230	$74,507	$246,321	+$53,521	$1,863
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	226	$86,164	$289,712	+$96,912	$2,154
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	222	$91,080	$308,011	+$115,211	$2,277
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	201	$115,316	$398,226	+$205,426	$2,883
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	181	$73,802	$243,697	+$50,897	$1,845
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	178	$40,435	$119,493	−$73,307	$1,011
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	160	$29,720	$79,608	−$113,192	$743
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	87	$21,793	$50,101	−$142,699	$545
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	78	$31,690	$86,941	−$105,859	$792
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	73	$37,136	$107,213	−$85,587	$928
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	50	$76,008	$251,908	+$59,108	$1,900
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	32	$47,812	$146,953	−$45,847	$1,195
NAICS 115 Support activities for agriculture and forestry NAICS 115	16	$32,164	$88,706	−$104,094	$804
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	14	$41,431	$123,201	−$69,599	$1,036

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	4,240	(440)	(9%)	$13.53	$28,130	$73,690	$703
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	2,820	(210)	(7%)	$14.36	$29,880	$80,204	$747
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	380	(100)	(21%)	$14.57	$30,300	$81,767	$758
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	1,970	(400)	(17%)	$15.30	$31,830	$87,463	$796
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	4,000	(680)	(15%)	$16.62	$34,580	$97,699	$865
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	2,140	120	6%	$17.55	$36,500	$104,846	$913
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	1,520	(560)	(27%)	$19.14	$39,800	$117,130	$995
Tellers SOC 43-3071	480	70	17%	$19.27	$40,090	$118,209	$1,002
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	2,770	490	21%	$20.60	$42,850	$128,483	$1,071
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	1,620	50	3%	$24.07	$50,060	$155,321	$1,252
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	800	390	95%	$26.81	$55,760	$176,538	$1,394
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	440	(340)	(44%)	$26.90	$55,960	$177,283	$1,399
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	1,840	40	2%	$27.36	$56,910	$180,819	$1,423
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	1,220	120	11%	—	$58,440	$186,514	$1,461
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	80	(10)	(11%)	$29.15	$60,630	$194,666	$1,516
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	500	130	35%	$29.78	$61,930	$199,505	$1,548
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	670	(270)	(29%)	$33.97	$70,650	$231,964	$1,766
Electricians SOC 47-2111	750	300	67%	$34.59	$71,950	$236,803	$1,799
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	490	(50)	(9%)	$35.58	$74,000	$244,434	$1,850
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	3,370	340	11%	$47.75	$99,320	$338,683	$2,483

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 18141 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.