Cost of Living in St. Joseph County, Michigan
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 #1,652 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 47%)
Sourced county brief
St. Joseph County Renter Median Income Reaches $40,990
In St. Joseph County, the median renter-household income is $40,990. The official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI), reported in ACS table B25071, is 25.0%. This percentage is 3.9 percentage points lower than the Michigan unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 28.9%. The median gross rent in the county is $849 per month, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $906. For homeowners, the median selected monthly owner cost for all units is $906, while the state unweighted county mean for this metric is $918. Additionally, the median home value is $178,300, which is lower than the state unweighted county mean of $197,293. These statistics represent five-year estimates and are not intended as relocation or financial advice. 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 25.0% 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 $849 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $906. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $33,960 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 Michigan unweighted mean of county median rents is $906 per month. St. Joseph County's $849 median is 6.3% below 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
15.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,550
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.4%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in St. Joseph County
Median home value is $178,300. Estimated monthly cost: $1,423 vs. your max of $1,550.
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
What is the cost of living in St. Joseph County, Michigan?
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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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