1st Advantage Mortgage31% of St. Joseph County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $66,868 (ACS 2020-24). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Indiana before sharing details.
On this page
- St. Joseph County, IN: the basics
- St. Joseph County income bands
- What it costs to live in St. Joseph County
- What stands out in St. Joseph County
- Work, industries and travel time in St. Joseph County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in St. Joseph County
- St. Joseph County and the counties next door
- A St. Joseph County household budget, worked through
- More St. Joseph County figures
- Reading the St. Joseph County data as a borrower
- Steps before you apply in St. Joseph County
- Lender oversight for St. Joseph County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
St. Joseph County, IN: the basics
With an estimated 273,040 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), St. Joseph County ranks 5th of 92 in Indiana for population. Packed into 458 square miles, that is close to 596 residents for every square mile of land. Metro area: South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (9 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is South Bend, with about 103,085 residents, or 38% of the county.
St. Joseph County income bands
At $66,868, the typical St. Joseph County household income is 2% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | St. Joseph County | vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.6% | +2.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.2% | +0.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.6% | -2.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.6% | -0.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of St. Joseph County households make $100,000 or more, and 25% make less than $35,000. St. Joseph County counts about 38,826 residents below the poverty line, 14.2% of the population. St. Joseph County scores 0.470 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. None of these numbers decides a St. Joseph County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in St. Joseph County
Half of St. Joseph County renters pay more than $1,062 a month and half pay less; the Indiana midpoint is $1,062. 49% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. Median value $192,800; median income $66,868; ratio 2.9. 69% of St. Joseph County households own their home and 31% rent. The median home was built in 1968, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills. Against the median U.S. county, St. Joseph County rent is 21% above.
| St. Joseph County | Indiana | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,062/mo | $1,062/mo | level |
| Median home value | $192,800 | $218,200 | 12% lower |
| Owners | 69% | 71% | -1.5 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 48% | +1.0 pts |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 20% | -1.9 pts |
| Vacant units | 10% | 9% | +0.8 pts |
What stands out in St. Joseph County
Out of every Indiana county, St. Joseph County is most unusual on these measures.
- Population: 273,040 in St. Joseph County. Only 4 of 92 Indiana counties are higher. More people usually means more banks and credit unions to compare nearby.
- St. Joseph County ranks 7th lowest of 92 Indiana counties for the share of mobile homes: 1.6%, against 4.4% statewide. Site-built housing dominates, which matters for equity-based credit.
- St. Joseph County ranks 6th lowest of 92 Indiana counties for the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 7%, against 13% statewide. Short commutes keep vehicle costs down, which can free up room for savings.
Work, industries and travel time in St. Joseph County
The biggest employer of St. Joseph County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 29% of workers, followed by manufacturing (17%). Relative to Indiana (23%), education and health care is 5 points bigger in St. Joseph County (29%). Unemployment in St. Joseph County, ACS five-year: 5.2%; Indiana: 4.3%. Long commutes are the exception here: 7% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | St. Joseph County share | +/- vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.8% | +5.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.7% | -1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -0.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.0% | -0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | -0.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.3% | -0.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Cities, towns and CDPs in St. Joseph County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 74% of St. Joseph County residents live in one of the 11. Incomes vary by place: $123,318 at the median in Granger, $19,886 in Notre Dame. Rent is cheapest in Lakeville ($797) and steepest in Granger ($1,656). Live in one of these St. Joseph County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend | city | 103,085 | $55,786 | $1,033 | 4 mi |
| Mishawaka | city | 51,021 | $54,291 | $1,070 | 8 mi |
| Granger | CDP | 30,321 | $123,318 | $1,656 | 11 mi |
| Notre Dame | CDP | 6,890 | $19,886 | $1,258 | 6 mi |
| Osceola | town | 2,593 | $66,503 | $1,654 | 11 mi |
| Walkerton | town | 2,115 | $65,340 | $828 | 15 mi |
| New Carlisle | town | 1,998 | $66,824 | $1,231 | 13 mi |
| North Liberty | town | 1,775 | $75,047 | $960 | 9 mi |
| Roseland | town | 1,175 | $47,917 | $1,227 | 7 mi |
| Lakeville | town | 735 | $62,772 | $797 | 6 mi |
| Indian Village | town | 97 | $81,875 | n/a | 7 mi |
St. Joseph County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (20 to 30 miles). 4 of the six report a higher median household income than St. Joseph County; Marshall County is highest at $71,808 and Starke County lowest at $63,960. The list crosses into Michigan, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph County | - | $66,868 | $1,062/mo | 69% |
| Marshall County, IN | 20 mi | $71,808 | $938/mo | 76% |
| Elkhart County, IN | 22 mi | $68,561 | $1,047/mo | 72% |
| LaPorte County, IN | 24 mi | $71,055 | $976/mo | 75% |
| Cass County, MI | 25 mi | $70,443 | $916/mo | 82% |
| Berrien County, MI | 26 mi | $65,425 | $942/mo | 73% |
| Starke County, IN | 30 mi | $63,960 | $712/mo | 83% |
A St. Joseph County household budget, worked through
DTI math using St. Joseph County medians ($66,868 income, $1,062 rent):
- Monthly gross at the median, St. Joseph County: $5,572
- 19% goes to median rent ($1,062)
- With a 36% ceiling, about $944 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of St. Joseph County's.
More St. Joseph County figures
Bachelor's degree or higher: 34% of St. Joseph County adults. 7.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | St. Joseph County | Gap to Indiana | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 33.5% | +4.0 pts | +11.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | +1.9 pts | +1.0 pts |
| Median age | 36.7 | -1.4 yrs | -4.8 yrs |
| No high school diploma | 8.5% | -1.1 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.2% | +0.9 pts | +0.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.7% | +0.5 pts | +1.3 pts |
| No health insurance | 7.1% | -0.3 pts | -0.8 pts |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 0.0 pts | +2.1 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of St. Joseph County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 44.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.8% |
| 60+ min | 3.6% |
Reading the St. Joseph County data as a borrower
- Renters under pressure. When 49% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a St. Joseph County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Steps before you apply in St. Joseph County
Quick steps for St. Joseph County:
- Price the St. Joseph County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Indiana license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Lender oversight for St. Joseph County
Before sharing details with a lender, a St. Joseph County resident can confirm its license with the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. If a St. Joseph County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. Statewide data and rules: Indiana guide.
Related local guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Is $66,868 a good income in St. Joseph County?
It is the county median, so half of St. Joseph County households earn more and half less; 31% earn $100,000 or more.
How much is rent in St. Joseph County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,062 a month; 49% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Is Indian Village covered?
Yes. Indian Village is one of 11 Census places in St. Joseph County, and this guide covers all of them.
Will a St. Joseph County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Indiana as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
What agency protects St. Joseph County borrowers?
The Indiana Department of Financial Institutions at the state level and the CFPB federally.