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 (2025 population: 103,201)
Population per Square Mile: 595.90
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 (2025) | 272,861 | 5 | 3.9% | 6,973,333 |
| Tomorrow (2030 projection)* | 274,650 | 5 | 3.9% | 7,013,509 |
| Percent Change 2020 to Today | -0.0% | 35 | | 2.8% |
*Projection based on 2020 Census population estimates.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Components of Population Change, 2024-2025 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Net Domestic Migration | -1,054 | 90 | | 12,197 |
| Net International Migration | 842 | 6 | | 17,852 |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | 127 | 17 | 1.5% | 8,561 |
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 2024 (Includes detail not shown below) | 107,252 | 5 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Married With Children | 17,024 | 6 | 15.9% | 17.9% |
| Married Without Children | 28,722 | 5 | 26.8% | 29.3% |
| Single Parents | 9,324 | 4 | 8.7% | 8.8% |
| Living Alone | 36,211 | 4 | 33.8% | 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 2025 (estimate) | 119,768 | 5 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Housing Units in 2024 (includes vacant units) | 118,580 | 5 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Owner Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 74,022 | 5 | 62.4% | 64.4% |
| Median Value (2024) | $192,800 | 41 | | |
Renter Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 33,230 | 5 | 28.0% | 26.9% |
| Median Rent (2024) | $881 | 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 2024 ACS) | 178,751 | 5 | 3.9% | 4,596,004 |
| with High School diploma or higher | 91.5% | 30 | | 90.4% |
| with B.A. or higher degree | 33.5% | 11 | | 29.5% |
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 2024 | $59,030 | 33 | 92.1% | 64,077 |
| Median Household Income in 2024 | 64,573 | 71 | 89.7% | $71,958 |
| Poverty Rate in 2024 | 15.4% | 11 | 127.3% | 12.1% |
| Poverty Rate among Children under 18 | 21.3% | 11 | 134.8% | 15.8% |
| Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 2025 | 185 | 4 | 3.8% | 4,863 |
| Food Stamp Recipients in 2025 | 27,269 | 4 | 4.7% | 578,293 |
| 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, 2025 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Total Resident Labor Force | 130,397 | 5 | 3.7% | 3,506,284 |
| Employed | 125,062 | 5 | 3.7% | 3,377,760 |
| Unemployed | 5,335 | 5 | 4.2% | 128,524 |
| Annual Unemployment Rate | 4.1 | 12 | 110.8% | 3.7 |
| April 2026 Unemployment Rate | 3.0 | 17 | 107.1% | 2.8 |
Source: STATS Indiana, using data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
| Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2024 | Employment | Pct Dist.
in County | Earnings ($000) | Pct Dist.
In County | Avg. Earnings Per Job |
|---|
| Total by place of work | 161,256 | 100.0% | $11,156,285 | 100.0% | $69,184 |
| Wage and Salary | 129,871 | 80.5% | $8,129,194 | 72.9% | $62,594 |
| Farm Proprietors | 556 | 0.3% | $13,340 | 0.1% | $23,993 |
| Nonfarm Proprietors | 30,829 | 19.1% | $1,267,303 | 11.4% | $41,107 |
| Farm | 668 | 0.4% | $22,254 | 0.2% | $33,314 |
| Nonfarm | 160,588 | 99.6% | $11,134,031 | 99.8% | $69,333 |
| Private | 147,089 | 91.2% | $10,175,843 | 91.2% | $69,182 |
| Accommodation, Food Serv. | 11,874 | 7.4% | $395,422 | 3.5% | $33,301 |
| Arts, Ent., Recreation | 3,582 | 2.2% | $163,974 | 1.5% | $45,777 |
| Construction | 7,770 | 4.8% | $613,777 | 5.5% | $78,993 |
| Health Care, Social Serv. | 23,117 | 14.3% | $1,964,491 | 17.6% | $84,980 |
| Information | 1,944 | 1.2% | $189,388 | 1.7% | $97,422 |
| Manufacturing | 14,038 | 8.7% | $1,255,099 | 11.3% | $89,407 |
| Professional, Tech. Serv. | 8,461 | 5.2% | $885,655 | 7.9% | $104,675 |
| Retail Trade | 16,227 | 10.1% | $739,906 | 6.6% | $45,597 |
| Trans., Warehousing | 7,183 | 4.5% | $349,788 | 3.1% | $48,697 |
| Wholesale Trade | 7,178 | 4.5% | $758,078 | 6.8% | $105,611 |
| Other Private (not above) | 45,490* | 28.2%* | $2,854,661* | 25.6%* | $62,754* |
| Government | 13,499 | 8.4% | $958,188 | 8.6% | $70,982 |
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, 2025 | Units | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State | Cost ($000) | State Cost ($000) |
|---|
| Total Permits Filed | 611 | 100.0% | 100.0% | $195,853 | $8,792,236 |
| Single-Family | 377 | 61.7% | 68.4% | $161,692 | $7,272,703 |
| 2-Family | 32 | 5.2% | 1.7% | 5,592 | $80,213 |
| 3- and 4-Family | 11 | 1.8% | 0.6% | $3,957 | $31,389 |
| 5+ Family | 191 | 31.3% | 29.3% | $24,613 | $1,407,931 |
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 2025 | Percent of County |
|---|
| Indian Village | 117 | 0.0% |
| Lakeville | 873 | 0.3% |
| Mishawaka | 51,226 | 18.8% |
| New Carlisle | 1,884 | 0.7% |
| North Liberty | 1,624 | 0.6% |
| Osceola | 2,586 | 0.9% |
| Roseland | 850 | 0.3% |
| South Bend | 103,201 | 37.8% |
| Walkerton | 2,074 | 0.8% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates
