St. Joseph County: Economy & Jobs
St. Joseph County reports a median household income of $66,425 (about the same as St. Joseph County median $66,425; 1.1× below Michigan median $74,109), with homes at a median value of $152,800.
Income & Affordability
Median household income $66,425 — below the Michigan median ($74,109). Poverty rate 12.9% (U.S. average ~12.5%).
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $28,440 |
|---|---|
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $1,813,625 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $63,770 |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Median Household Income | $66,425 (vs Michigan $74,109) |
| Poverty Rate | 12.9% |
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 5.3% — above the U.S. average of ~4%.
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 21,098 |
|---|---|
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $1,129,784,871 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $53,550 |
| 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 | 4,347,960 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% (vs Michigan 6.1%) |
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 | 18 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 137,011 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 7,611.70 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Grain, Corn, Animal Totals, Vegetable Totals |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 1,170 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 18,606 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 1,005,422 |
| 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 | 12 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 21 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 18 |
| Local Businesses · Bookstores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Electronics Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Home Centers | 3 |
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 | 43 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 30 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 3 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 10 |
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 | 76 |
|---|
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $376,028,851 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 6,170.58 |
| Federal Spending · Population | 60,939 people |
Sources: USAspending API