Population 21,250 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in St. Joseph
Household size in St. Joseph
| Period | St. Joseph | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.37 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.32 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.04 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
St. Joseph is a place of small households, averaging 2.32 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has crept up from 2.28 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast.
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
| Period | St. Joseph | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.6 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.1 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.6 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.5 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
St. Joseph skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.6, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has edged down from 45.0, even as the national median rose.
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
| Period | St. Joseph | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.5% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in St. Joseph: 3.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 1.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only five of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of single-parent households.
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
Renters in St. Joseph
| Period | St. Joseph | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.8% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.5% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.3% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.8% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
St. Joseph is largely a place of homeowners: only 23.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 40.4% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.0 points, in line with the national trend.
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
| Period | St. Joseph | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.1% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in St. Joseph as nationally: 8.5%, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in Michigan as a whole (10.2%). Vacancy is down 1.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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
| Period | St. Joseph | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1966 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1968 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +3 | +6 |
The housing in St. Joseph is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1970, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1963 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the north.
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
| Period | St. Joseph | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $907 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,026 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,040 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,424 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$518 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in St. Joseph costs $1,424 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in Michigan as a whole ($1,228). Rent has climbed $518 a month since 2006–10, up 57%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 24.8% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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
Bachelor's degrees in St. Joseph
| Period | St. Joseph | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.0% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 40.7% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 47.3% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 50.1% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.0 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
St. Joseph is highly educated: about half of adults 25 and older (50.1%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 10.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. St. Joseph has a higher share of college graduates than the great majority of Michigan cities.
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
| Period | St. Joseph | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.0% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.2% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.9% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.2% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in St. Joseph: 97.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 4.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. St. Joseph has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Michigan cities.
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
| Period | St. Joseph | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.1% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.6% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.6 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in St. Joseph has been low: just 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only 25 of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 4.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph | 2.32 | 44.6 | 3.6% | 23.8% | 8.5% | 1970 | $1,424 | 50.1% | 97.2% | 2.3% |
| Fair Plain | 2.18 | 44.3 | 14.0% | 32.7% | 6.1% | 1962 | $1,005 | 21.1% | 90.7% | 17.3% |
| Shoreham | 2.06 | 53.0 | 3.1% | 33.6% | 24.7% | 1977 | $1,013 | 54.3% | 99.4% | 0.9% |
| Stevensville | 2.56 | 44.7 | 6.7% | 20.1% | 9.5% | 1978 | $1,422 | 47.1% | 97.7% | 5.9% |
| Benton Harbor | 2.48 | 37.0 | 33.4% | 45.8% | 12.1% | 1963 | $909 | 16.0% | 84.6% | 13.3% |
| Benton Heights | 2.39 | 32.1 | 20.6% | 55.5% | 8.7% | 1958 | $707 | 14.0% | 80.7% | 8.5% |
| Sodus | 2.42 | 45.7 | 2.7% | 12.6% | 4.9% | 1971 | $989 | 24.2% | 94.0% | 4.9% |
| Buckhorn | 2.82 | 44.2 | 4.2% | 3.2% | 1.9% | 1993 | $1,721 | 56.1% | 98.2% | 1.3% |
| Pearl Grange | 1.78 | 57.2 | 3.6% | 12.6% | 13.7% | 1960 | $778 | 14.4% | 97.2% | 8.8% |
| Twelve Corners | 2.06 | 54.5 | 12.3% | 23.7% | 3.8% | 1970 | $470 | 10.6% | 87.5% | 4.5% |
| Shanghai Corners | 2.34 | 53.8 | 2.4% | 4.6% | 7.9% | 1960 | $879 | 19.6% | 92.5% | 1.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Cleveland, GA · Washington, MO · Warrington, PA · Warrenton, VA · Wantagh, NY · Darien, CT · Dallas, OR · Crest Hill, IL · Covington, WA · Columbia Heights, MN
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. 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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