St. Joseph County, Indiana: commercial real estate data.
St. Joseph County, Indiana had an estimated 273,744 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 272,908, across 458 square miles. County output reached $19.49 bn in 2024, 5,959 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 297 7(a) approvals worth $145.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
St. Joseph County
How many people live in St. Joseph County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024273,040
- Households107,252
- Average household size2.55
- Median household income$66,868
- Median age36.7
- Median gross rent$1,062 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$192,800
- Home value to household income2.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher33.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over178,751
- Population under 1863,303
- Share under 1823.2 percent
- Population 65 and over46,023
- Share 65 and over16.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64163,714
- Civilian labor force137,389
- Unemployment rate5.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over65.5 percent
- Rank by population among Indiana counties5th of 92
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included263rd of 3,222
St. Joseph County is the 5th largest of 92 Indiana counties by population. A median home costs 2.9 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.2 percent against 16.9 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
St. Joseph County
Is St. Joseph County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024273,744
- Census 2020 base population272,908
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.31 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202486
- Births, 20243,172
- Deaths, 20242,845
- Natural change, 2024327
- Net domestic migration, 2024-1,797
- Net international migration, 20241,558
- Total net migration, 2024-239
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-3,840
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1717th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.31 percent since the 2020 census base. Births exceeded deaths in 2024 by more than net migration took away, so the population grew even though more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
St. Joseph County
Where are people moving to St. Joseph County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving5,833
- People arriving, from those returns10,159
- Tax returns filed by households leaving6,566
- Net household movement-733
- Adjusted gross income arriving$354.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-137.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$60,820
- Average income of a leaving household$75,004
- Largest single originElkhart County (1,083 households)
- Largest single destinationElkhart County (992 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart County | 1,083 | 2,032 | $54.7 m |
| Berrien County | 341 | 617 | $17.1 m |
| LaPorte County | 282 | 444 | $12.6 m |
| Marshall County | 233 | 403 | $10.5 m |
| Cass County | 216 | 379 | $32.7 m |
| Cook County | 210 | 332 | $14.4 m |
| Marion County | 172 | 286 | $7.4 m |
| Allen County | 83 | 127 | $3.4 m |
Households arriving report $14,184 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Elkhart County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
St. Joseph County
What is the St. Joseph County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$19.49 bn
- County GDP, 2023$18.72 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.2 percent
- GDP change over five years33.0 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Indiana areas BEA publishes6th of 92
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes264th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$71,394
Output grew 4.2 percent in the latest year and 33.0 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
St. Joseph County
Employment by industry in St. Joseph County
- Covered employment, annual average121,043
- Establishments reporting6,539
- Average annual pay$59,303
- Average weekly wage$1,140
- Health care and social assistance, employment23,097
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$62,191
- Retail trade, employment13,316
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,635
- Manufacturing, employment13,078
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$68,948
- Accommodation and food services, employment11,246
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$23,423
- Educational services, employment8,857
- Wholesale trade, employment5,641
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 23,097 | 717 | $62,191 |
| Retail trade | 13,316 | 849 | $36,635 |
| Manufacturing | 13,078 | 356 | $68,948 |
| Accommodation and food services | 11,246 | 611 | $23,423 |
| Educational services | 8,857 | 90 | $93,841 |
| Wholesale trade | 5,641 | 465 | $77,516 |
| Construction | 5,631 | 482 | $73,941 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 5,029 | 399 | $43,662 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 23,097 jobs, 19.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
St. Joseph County
How many businesses are in St. Joseph County?
- Establishments, all industries5,959
- Employment at those establishments120,211
- Annual payroll$6.28 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents21.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
St. Joseph County
Building permits in St. Joseph County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024752
- Declared construction value permitted$206.1 m
- Single family units authorized270
- Multifamily units authorized482
- Multifamily share of units64.1 percent
- Average declared value per unit$274,122
- Units authorized per 1,000 households7.0
Multifamily is 64.1 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
St. Joseph County
SBA loans in St. Joseph County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded297
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$145.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$490,406
- Median 7(a) approval$141,800
- 10th percentile approval$29,460
- 90th percentile approval$1,452,920
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2,549
- Jobs per approval8.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active44
- Distinct industries receiving approvals135
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer17.8 percent
- Loans on real estate terms53
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter216
- Franchise loans40
- Franchise share of approvals13.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countBeauty Salons (21)
- Most active lender1st Source Bank (112)
- 504 approvals recorded124
- 504 gross approval dollars$64.4 m
- Average 504 approval$519,516
- Median 504 approval$360,000
- Distinct CDCs active7
- 504 jobs per approval18.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved35.6
- Most active CDCBusiness Development Corporation (BDC) (109)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$210.1 m
The average approval of $490,406 sits well above the median of $141,800, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 17.8 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
St. Joseph County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in St. Joseph County
Do SBA loans in St. Joseph County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded75
- Paid in full75
- Charged off0
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans0.0 percent
- Status: Paid in full75
- Status: Exempt from disclosure185
- Status: Cancelled26
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed11
Of the 75 loans that have reached a final outcome, 0.0 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
St. Joseph County
SBA lending by place in St. Joseph County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending10
- South Bend, approvals121
- Mishawaka, approvals79
- Granger, approvals56
- Osceola, approvals22
- North Liberty, approvals9
- New Carlisle, approvals4
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| South Bend | 121 | $68,029,500 |
| Mishawaka | 79 | $48,666,800 |
| Granger | 56 | $13,149,600 |
| Osceola | 22 | $6,403,900 |
| North Liberty | 9 | $5,407,200 |
| New Carlisle | 4 | $329,200 |
| Lakeville | 2 | $440,000 |
| Walkerton | 2 | $84,000 |
| 2 other borrower cities | 2 | $3,140,500 |
South Bend accounts for 121 approvals against 79 in Mishawaka. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
St. Joseph County
How large is St. Joseph County?
- Land area458 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Indiana counties17th of 92
- Width, east to west24.2 mi
- Height, north to south22.6 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land596
- Establishments per square mile13.01
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
St. Joseph County
Flood risk in St. Joseph County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community St. Joseph County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 180224
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book10
- Of those, participating in the NFIP9
- NFIP participation rate90.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in St. Joseph County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated St. Joseph County (community 180224), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places St. Joseph County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 90.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a St. Joseph County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a St. Joseph County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024273,040
- Households107,252
- Average household size2.55
- Median household income$66,868
- Median age36.7
Common questions
St. Joseph County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in St. Joseph County, Indiana?
The Census Bureau estimates 273,744 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 273,040, in 107,252 households, ranking 5th of 92 Indiana counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is St. Joseph County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.31 percent since the 2020 census base of 272,908, to 273,744 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 3,172 births against 2,845 deaths, with net migration of -239. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in St. Joseph County?
$66,868. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $192,800, which is 2.9 times income, and median gross rent is $1,062 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in St. Joseph County?
5,959 establishments, employing 120,211 people with an annual payroll of $6.28 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in St. Joseph County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 23,097 jobs, 19.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 121,043 jobs at an average annual pay of $59,303, or $1,140 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in St. Joseph County?
297 7(a) approvals totaling $145.7 m since FY2020, across 44 lenders, with a median approval of $141,800, plus 124 504 approvals worth $64.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in St. Joseph County get paid back?
Of the 75 loans that have reached a final outcome, 75 were paid in full and 0 charged off, a charge-off rate of 0.0 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in St. Joseph County?
752 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $206.1 m. Multifamily was 64.1 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for St. Joseph County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to St. Joseph County come from?
The largest single origin is Elkhart County, with 1,083 households. Arriving households report an average income of $60,820 against $75,004 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for St. Joseph County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for St. Joseph County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
St. Joseph County
Cities and places in St. Joseph.
15 Census places lie wholly or partly in St. Joseph County. All 15 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend | city | 103,085 | 121 | Wholly in this county |
| Mishawaka | city | 51,021 | 79 | Wholly in this county |
| Granger | CDP | 30,321 | 56 | Wholly in this county |
| Notre Dame | CDP | 6,890 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Osceola | town | 2,593 | 22 | Wholly in this county |
| Walkerton | town | 2,115 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| New Carlisle | town | 1,998 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Ardmore | CDP | 1,810 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| North Liberty | town | 1,775 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Roseland | town | 1,175 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Gilmer Park | CDP | 1,055 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lakeville | town | 735 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Chain-O-Lakes | CDP | 490 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Indian Village | town | 97 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Wyatt | CDP | 80 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 297 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in St. Joseph County, the largest being Edwardsburg (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby