St. Joseph County, Indiana
Named by early missionaries for the St. Josesph River and organized in 1830
County Seat: South Bend
Largest City: South Bend (2024 population: 103,713)
Population per Square Mile: 597.82
Square Miles: 457.90
Go to county's in.gov site
| Population over Time | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Yesterday (2020) | 272,912 | 5 | 4.2% | 6,484,050 |
| Today (2024) | 273,744 | 5 | 4.0% | 6,924,275 |
| Tomorrow (2030 projection)* | 274,650 | 5 | 3.9% | 7,013,509 |
| Percent Change 2020 to Today | 0.3% | 30 | | 2.0% |
*Projection based on 2020 Census population estimates.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Components of Population Change, 2023-2024 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Net Domestic Migration | -1,797 | 90 | | 4,268 |
| Net International Migration | 1,558 | 6 | | 30,852 |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | 327 | 10 | 3.6% | 9,159 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Population Estimates by Age, 2024 | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Preschool (0 to 4) | 16,094 | 5 | 5.9% | 5.9% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 46,450 | 5 | 17.0% | 17.0% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 31,146 | 6 | 11.4% | 9.7% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 70,817 | 5 | 25.9% | 25.9% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 61,234 | 5 | 22.4% | 23.9% |
| Seniors (65 and older) | 48,003 | 5 | 17.5% | 17.5% |
| Median Age | 36.8 | | | Median Age = 38.3 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2024 | Number | Rank of | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native Alone | 1,683 | 4 | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| Asian Alone | 8,352 | 8 | 3.1% | 3.1% |
| Black Alone | 38,653 | 4 | 14.1% | 10.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 243 | 6 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| White | 214,738 | 5 | 78.4% | 83.2% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 10,075 | 4 | 3.7% | 2.5% |
| Non-Hispanic | 242,906 | 5 | 88.7% | 90.9% |
| Hispanic | 30,838 | 5 | 11.3% | 9.1% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Household Types | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Households in 2023 (Includes detail not shown below) | 107,005 | 5 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Married With Children | 17,032 | 6 | 15.9% | 18.1% |
| Married Without Children | 28,373 | 5 | 26.5% | 29.3% |
| Single Parents | 9,991 | 4 | 9.3% | 8.9% |
| Living Alone | 35,972 | 4 | 33.6% | 29.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Housing | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Total Housing Units in 2024 (estimate) | 119,029 | 5 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Housing Units in 2023 (includes vacant units) | 118,329 | 5 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Owner Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 73,649 | 5 | 62.2% | 63.9% |
| Median Value (2023) | $179,800 | 42 | | |
Renter Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 33,356 | 5 | 28.2% | 26.9% |
| Median Rent (2023) | $848 | 13 | | |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Education | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| School Enrollment (2024/2025 Total Reported) | 42,899 | 5 | 3.8% | 1,132,621 |
| Public | 34,783 | 5 | 3.4% | 1,033,552 |
| Adults (25+ in 2023 ACS) | 178,054 | 5 | 3.9% | 4,559,304 |
| with High School diploma or higher | 91.2% | 29 | | 90.2% |
| with B.A. or higher degree | 32.6% | 11 | | 28.8% |
Sources: Indiana Department of Education; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Income and Poverty | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Per Capita Personal Income (annual) in 2023 | $56,895 | 28 | 92.9% | 61,243 |
| Median Household Income in 2023 | 65,977 | 52 | 95.0% | $69,458 |
| Poverty Rate in 2023 | 14.2% | 20 | 116.4% | 12.2% |
| Poverty Rate among Children under 18 | 18.4% | 18 | 121.9% | 15.1% |
| Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 2024 | 160 | 5 | 3.3% | 4,813 |
| Food Stamp Recipients in 2024 | 28,147 | 4 | 4.6% | 608,295 |
| Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2024/2025 | 15,864 | 5 | 3.2% | 488,145 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Family Social Services Administration; Indiana Department of Education
| Health and Vital Statistics | Number | Rank of | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Births, 2021 | 3,227 | 5 | 4.0% | 79,946 |
| Births to Teens, 2021 | 172 | 5 | 4.5% | 3,845 |
| Deaths, 2019 | 2,824 | 4 | 4.3% | 66,005 |
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
| Labor Force, 2024 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Total Resident Labor Force | 129,888 | 5 | 3.8% | 3,455,992 |
| Employed | 123,534 | 5 | 3.7% | 3,310,992 |
| Unemployed | 6,354 | 5 | 4.4% | 145,000 |
| Annual Unemployment Rate | 4.9 | 5 | 116.7% | 4.2 |
| May 2025 Unemployment Rate | 3.7 | 13 | 108.8% | 3.4 |
Source: STATS Indiana, using data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
| Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2023 | Employment | Pct Dist.
in County | Earnings ($000) | Pct Dist.
In County | Avg. Earnings Per Job |
|---|
| Total by place of work | 161,256 | 100.0% | $10,701,799 | 100.0% | $66,365 |
| Wage and Salary | 129,871 | 80.5% | $7,823,564 | 73.1% | $60,241 |
| Farm Proprietors | 556 | 0.3% | $23,349 | 0.2% | $41,995 |
| Nonfarm Proprietors | 30,829 | 19.1% | $1,201,307 | 11.2% | $38,967 |
| Farm | 668 | 0.4% | $31,299 | 0.3% | $46,855 |
| Nonfarm | 160,588 | 99.6% | $10,670,500 | 99.7% | $66,446 |
| Private | 147,089 | 91.2% | $9,761,319 | 91.2% | $66,363 |
| Accommodation, Food Serv. | 11,874 | 7.4% | $363,193 | 3.4% | $30,587 |
| Arts, Ent., Recreation | 3,582 | 2.2% | $137,401 | 1.3% | $38,359 |
| Construction | 7,770 | 4.8% | $573,134 | 5.4% | $73,762 |
| Health Care, Social Serv. | 23,117 | 14.3% | $1,883,623 | 17.6% | $81,482 |
| Information | 1,944 | 1.2% | $169,230 | 1.6% | $87,052 |
| Manufacturing | 14,038 | 8.7% | $1,270,014 | 11.9% | $90,470 |
| Professional, Tech. Serv. | 8,461 | 5.2% | $968,958 | 9.1% | $114,521 |
| Retail Trade | 16,227 | 10.1% | $710,161 | 6.6% | $43,764 |
| Trans., Warehousing | 7,183 | 4.5% | $336,274 | 3.1% | $46,815 |
| Wholesale Trade | 7,178 | 4.5% | $726,524 | 6.8% | $101,215 |
| Other Private (not above) | 45,490* | 28.2%* | $2,618,032* | 24.5%* | $57,552* |
| Government | 13,499 | 8.4% | $909,181 | 8.5% | $67,352 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
* These totals do not include county data that are not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.
| Residential Building Permits, 2024 | Units | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State | Cost ($000) | State Cost ($000) |
|---|
| Total Permits Filed | 752 | 100.0% | 100.0% | $206,140 | $8,133,071 |
| Single-Family | 270 | 35.9% | 75.4% | $132,028 | $6,951,719 |
| 2-Family | 22 | 2.9% | 1.9% | 2,323 | $100,498 |
| 3- and 4-Family | 0 | 0.0% | 0.8% | $0 | $45,624 |
| 5+ Family | 460 | 61.2% | 21.9% | $71,789 | $1,035,231 |
Notes: Detail cost may not sum to total due to rounding. Greene County does not currently issue building permits, so it is excluded.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Largest Cities and Towns in St. Joseph County
| Name | Population
in 2024 | Percent of County |
|---|
| Indian Village | 115 | 0.0% |
| Lakeville | 878 | 0.3% |
| Mishawaka | 51,020 | 18.6% |
| New Carlisle | 1,913 | 0.7% |
| North Liberty | 1,632 | 0.6% |
| Osceola | 2,600 | 0.9% |
| Roseland | 853 | 0.3% |
| South Bend | 103,713 | 37.9% |
| Walkerton | 2,098 | 0.8% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates
Hoosiers by the Numbers