Population 60,969 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in St. Joseph County
Household size in St. Joseph County
| Period | St. Joseph County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.73 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.65 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.51 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.59 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
At 2.59 people per household, St. Joseph County sits close to the national average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.73, a much bigger shift than nationally. St. Joseph County has larger households than the great majority of Michigan counties.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in St. Joseph County
| Period | St. Joseph County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.5 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.5 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.6 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.0 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.5 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
At 40.0, the median age in St. Joseph County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.5, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the southeast, the oldest in the west.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in St. Joseph County
| Period | St. Joseph County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.0% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.9% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.5% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in St. Joseph County (9.5%), below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 1.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in St. Joseph County
Renters in St. Joseph County
| Period | St. Joseph County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.0% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.5% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.4% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.9% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 23.9% of households in St. Joseph County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 43.6% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the east. The renter share has risen 1.9 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in St. Joseph County
| Period | St. Joseph County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.3% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.9% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.4% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.0% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.3 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in St. Joseph County: 12.0% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is down 6.3 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in St. Joseph County
| Period | St. Joseph County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1969 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +3 | +6 |
The housing in St. Joseph County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1969, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Michigan as a whole looks much the same.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in St. Joseph County
| Period | St. Joseph County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $640 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $656 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $770 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $867 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$227 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in St. Joseph County costs $867 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $227 a month from 2006–10, a 35% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 25.1% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in St. Joseph County
Bachelor's degrees in St. Joseph County
| Period | St. Joseph County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.2% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.1% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.9% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.6% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in St. Joseph County: 16.6% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 2.4 points, a smaller shift than nationally. St. Joseph County has a lower share of college graduates than the great majority of Michigan counties.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in St. Joseph County
| Period | St. Joseph County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.1% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.3% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.7% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.5% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in seven adults in St. Joseph County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.4 points, mirroring the country. Only two of Michigan's 83 counties have a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in St. Joseph County
| Period | St. Joseph County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.7% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.9 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in St. Joseph County is close to the national rate: 5.8% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 7.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
St. Joseph County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph County | 2.59 | 40.0 | 9.5% | 23.9% | 12.0% | 1969 | $867 | 16.6% | 86.5% | 5.8% |
| Branch County | 2.66 | 41.3 | 11.0% | 22.3% | 16.2% | 1965 | $971 | 16.8% | 88.0% | 5.7% |
| Cass County | 2.41 | 45.2 | 9.8% | 18.4% | 14.6% | 1971 | $959 | 21.1% | 89.4% | 5.2% |
| Berrien County | 2.41 | 43.3 | 12.2% | 27.2% | 13.1% | 1967 | $1,052 | 30.8% | 92.3% | 6.2% |
| Hillsdale County | 2.48 | 43.9 | 10.1% | 18.0% | 16.0% | 1967 | $884 | 21.3% | 90.9% | 4.5% |
| Lenawee County | 2.45 | 42.9 | 11.1% | 20.4% | 10.3% | 1966 | $1,014 | 22.8% | 91.3% | 4.6% |
| Monroe County | 2.51 | 43.6 | 10.3% | 18.3% | 6.7% | 1975 | $1,076 | 23.5% | 91.8% | 5.1% |
| Cook County | 2.58 | 39.4 | 12.3% | 42.3% | 8.4% | 1961 | $1,567 | 41.7% | 88.1% | 7.4% |
| DuPage County | 2.69 | 41.3 | 8.0% | 26.9% | 5.6% | 1978 | $1,826 | 52.0% | 92.9% | 4.9% |
| Kane County | 2.88 | 39.6 | 11.3% | 24.0% | 4.4% | 1981 | $1,711 | 37.9% | 87.3% | 4.7% |
| DeKalb County | 2.52 | 35.4 | 12.9% | 38.6% | 6.0% | 1978 | $1,183 | 33.1% | 91.6% | 7.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Grant County, IN · St. Martin Parish, LA · St. Charles Parish, LA · Seneca County, OH · Saline County, KS · Rusk County, TX · Roane County, TN · Harrison County, TX · Hall County, NE · Greenwood County, SC
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up St. Joseph County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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