St. John: Economy & Jobs
$131,467 is the median household income in St. John (1.8× higher than Lake County median $71,493; 1.8× higher than Indiana median $73,612), with homes at a median value of $406,300. The surrounding county supports 191,633 jobs (avg $61,200).
- $69,524 avg taxable income per return — lower than the median household income.
Income & Affordability
Median household income $131,467 — above the Indiana median ($73,612). Poverty rate 2.1% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 42% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 3.1× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 8.9% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 42.2% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 2.1% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 2.8% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $235,210 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $16,352,692 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $69,524 |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $145,230 |
| Median Household Income | $131,467 (vs Indiana $73,612) |
| Poverty Rate | 2.1% |
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 | white_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | affluent |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $131,467 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 1.5% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 12% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 31.20 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 12.5% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | moderate commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 191,633 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $11,727,852,624 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $61,200 |
| 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 | 1.5% (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 | 103 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 28,907 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 280.70 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Grain, Corn, Soybeans, Animal Totals |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 10,472 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 167,600 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 9,430,121 |
| 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 | 80 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 27 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 77 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 188 |
| Local Businesses · Department Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 86 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 36 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 16 |
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 | 319 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 472 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 96 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 95 |
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 (2)
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 (2)
| Nearest Snap · Name | ALDI 62031 62031 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 2 |
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 | LAKE STATION 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 | $2,915,676,790 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 5,846.55 |
| Federal Spending · Population | 498,700 people |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 80.3% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 0.8% |
| Pct Walked | 12.5% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 42.3 years (vs Indiana 38.2y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 33.7% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 10 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | excellent |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12