St. Joseph County: Economy & Jobs
St. Joseph County reports a median household income of $66,868 (about the same as St. Joseph County median $66,868; 1.1× below Indiana median $73,612), with homes at a median value of $165,700.
Income & Affordability
Median household income $66,868 — below the Indiana median ($73,612). Poverty rate 14.4% (U.S. average ~12.5%).
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $127,680 |
|---|---|
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $9,422,669 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $73,799 |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Median Household Income | $66,868 (vs Indiana $73,612) |
| Poverty Rate | 14.4% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 — county FIPS
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 4.8% — above the U.S. average of ~4%.
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 121,043 |
|---|---|
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $7,178,221,201 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $59,303 |
| 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 | 4.8% (vs Indiana 4.5%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
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 | 10 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 481 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 48.10 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Grain, Corn, Soybeans, Animal Totals |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 5,952 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 120,386 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 6,232,076 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — 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 | 47 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 15 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 35 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 99 |
| Local Businesses · Department Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 43 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 27 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 6 |
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 | 206 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 208 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 41 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 52 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
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.
| Total Snap Stores | 224 |
|---|
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $2,802,376,124 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 10,268.42 |
| Federal Spending · Population | 272,912 people |
Sources: USAspending API