St. Joe: Economy & Jobs
St. Joe reports a median household income of $55,000 (1.4× below DeKalb County median $74,331; 1.3× below Indiana median $73,612), with homes at a median value of $87,100. The surrounding county supports 22,201 jobs (avg $62,916).
- $69,935 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income.
Income & Affordability
Median household income $55,000 — below the Indiana median ($73,612). Poverty rate 12.7% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 21% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 1.6× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 15.3% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 20.7% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 12.7% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 0.9% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $21,610 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $1,511,293 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $69,935 |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $70,507 |
| Median Household Income | $55,000 (vs Indiana $73,612) |
| Poverty Rate | 12.7% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | blue_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Manufacturing |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $55,000 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 5.5% — above the U.S. average of ~4%. 1% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 1.4% |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Primary Mode | drove alone |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 22,201 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $1,396,767,287 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $62,916 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 3,156,740 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5% (vs Indiana 4.5%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 17 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 16,182 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 951.90 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Grain, Soybeans, Corn, Animal Totals |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 1,034 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 20,900 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 1,173,569 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 4 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 18 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 9 |
| Local Businesses · New Car Dealers | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Used Car Dealers | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Beauty Salons | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 19 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 29 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 32 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 9 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 8 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (10)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (3)
| Nearest Snap · Name | GRD Food Mart Inc 1 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Distance | 1.2 mi |
Sources: USDA SNAP — nearest by coordinates
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | BROOK AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INC |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $274,582,079 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 6,346.52 |
| Federal Spending · Population | 43,265 people |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 77.9% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 10.7% |
| Pct Walked | 1.4% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 33.6 years (vs Indiana 38.2y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 42.4% |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | strong SS base, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | fair |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12