St. Joseph
Indiana

What stands out

Three things set St. Joseph County apart from the other 3,142 counties: winter sunshine is in the bottom 13% of American counties (-0.9 on the USDA scale). Within Indiana it ranks 18th of 92 counties for winter sunshine, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in St. Joseph County, Indiana. 272,388 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.2% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -671).

Indiana has a flat income tax just under 3% and most counties add their own income tax on top, typically 1% to 2.5%. Property taxes are capped by the state constitution at 1% of assessed value for homesteads. Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and the Chicago suburbs in Lake County account for most of the growth; the rest of the state is affordable and slow-changing.

Money

The typical household here brings in $61,877 a year, higher than 54% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $59,303. Unemployment runs 3.4%, lower than 51% of American counties. 8% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 20 minutes each way.

Indiana takes 3.0% of that median income in state income tax, about $1,825 a year.

Home

The median home costs $231K, cheaper than 51% of American counties, about 2.0 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $995 a month. Property tax is 0.88% of home value, roughly $1,461 a year on that median home, higher than 51% of American counties. 68% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.8 per 1,000 residents, lower than 57% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 26 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 75.5 years, shorter than 54% of American counties. There are 829 active physicians in the county, about 30.4 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 2.0 of 5 stars. 9.0% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.95 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 50% of American counties. 91% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted almost evenly. 58% of eligible voters turned out. Under Indiana law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and marijuana is illegal.

Weather and risk

The year averages 50°F, highs near 61 and lows near 40, colder than 74% of American counties. About 37 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 73 out of 100, riskier than 73% of American counties; the county has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 267 Mbps down, faster than 82% of American counties. There are 7 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.7 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 3 breweries, 7 museums.