Cost of Living in St. Joseph County, Indiana
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How St. Joseph County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
St. Joseph County ranks #2,150 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 32%)
Sourced county brief
St. Joseph County Median Rent Burden Reaches 29.6 Percent
The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in St. Joseph County reached 29.6% in the 2020-2024 period. This figure is 2.7 percentage points above the Indiana unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 26.9%. Median gross rent for the county was $1,062 per month, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $911. For households owning their homes, the median home value was estimated at $192,800, while the state unweighted county mean was $191,899. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $927, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $951. Renter-household income was reported at $42,214. All rent-to-income figures presented in this snapshot are canonical B25071 official GRAPI percentages. These statistics represent a snapshot of the five-year estimates provided by the Census Bureau. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: St. Joseph County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.6% of renter household income in St. Joseph County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,062 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $927. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $42,480 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Indiana unweighted mean of county median rents is $911 per month. St. Joseph County's $1,062 median is 16.6% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in St. Joseph County
Rent Burden
19.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,560
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.6%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in St. Joseph County
Median home value is $192,800. Estimated monthly cost: $1,539 vs. your max of $1,560.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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