St. Joseph County, Michigan: commercial real estate data.
St. Joseph County, Michigan has a population of 60,969 across 501 square miles, up 0.4 percent since the 2020 census base. County output reached $2.88 bn in 2024, 1,149 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 54 7(a) approvals worth $24.6 m.
129 sourced county values · tier FULL · 12 sections
St. Joseph County
How many people live in St. Joseph County
- Population60,969
- Households23,620
- Average household size2.58
- Median household income$66,425
- Median age39.9
- Median gross rent$849 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$178,300
- Home value to household income2.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher16.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over41,475
- Population under 1814,801
- Share under 1824.3 percent
- Population 65 and over11,403
- Share 65 and over18.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6434,765
- Civilian labor force29,411
- Unemployment rate5.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over63.7 percent
- Rank by population among Michigan counties33rd of 83
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents885th
St. Joseph County is the 33rd largest of 83 Michigan counties by population. A median home costs 2.7 times median household income, which is an affordable ownership market by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.3 percent against 18.7 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
St. Joseph County
Is St. Joseph County growing
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.38 percent
- Census 2020 base population60,940
- Births, 2024739
- Deaths, 2024699
- Natural change, 202440
- Net domestic migration, 2024-65
- Net international migration, 2024137
- Total net migration, 202472
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202427
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1685th
The county has grown 0.38 percent since the 2020 census base. Migration contributed more to 2024 change than births over deaths, so demand here follows people arriving rather than families forming.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
St. Joseph County
Where people moving to St. Joseph County come from
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,305
- People arriving, from those returns2,349
- Adjusted gross income arriving$74.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$0
- Average income of an arriving household$57,369
- Largest single originSt. Joseph County Non-migrants (22,858 households)
- Largest single destination (22,858 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph County Non-migrants | 22,858 | 47,133 | $1.57 bn |
| Other flows - Different State | 377 | 714 | $26.1 m |
| Kalamazoo County | 240 | 380 | $12.2 m |
| Other flows - Midwest | 181 | 365 | $16.0 m |
| Other flows - Same State | 149 | 239 | $6.5 m |
| Elkhart County | 129 | 250 | $11.0 m |
| Other flows - South | 127 | 242 | $6.2 m |
| Branch County | 100 | 202 | $4.3 m |
The largest single source of arrivals is St. Joseph County Non-migrants, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
St. Joseph County
What the St. Joseph County economy runs on
- County GDP, 2024$2.88 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.84 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20241.3 percent
- GDP change over five years35.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among Michigan counties29th
- Rank by GDP among US county-equivalents1010th
- GDP per resident$47,161
Output grew 1.3 percent in the latest year and 35.6 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
St. Joseph County
Who employs people in St. Joseph County
- Covered employment, annual average21,098
- Establishments reporting2,282
- Average annual pay$53,550
- Average weekly wage$1,030
- Sector 31-33, employment7,477
- Sector 31-33, average annual pay$71,284
- Sector 44-45, employment2,453
- Sector 44-45, average annual pay$34,717
- Sector 62, employment2,247
- Sector 62, average annual pay$37,715
- Sector 72, employment1,596
- Sector 72, average annual pay$19,700
- Sector 11, employment859
- Sector 23, employment741
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector 31-33 | 7,477 | 133 | $71,284 |
| Sector 44-45 | 2,453 | 170 | $34,717 |
| Sector 62 | 2,247 | 970 | $37,715 |
| Sector 72 | 1,596 | 117 | $19,700 |
| Sector 11 | 859 | 72 | $53,454 |
| Sector 23 | 741 | 103 | $75,206 |
| Sector 81 | 641 | 282 | $35,153 |
| Sector 54 | 583 | 66 | $54,235 |
The largest sector is the biggest private employer group at 7,477 jobs, 35.4 percent of covered employment. Average pay per job sits below median household income, so households here typically need more than one earner.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
St. Joseph County
What businesses operate in St. Joseph County
- Establishments, all industries1,149
- Employment at those establishments19,429
- Annual payroll$1.06 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents18.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
St. Joseph County
What is being built in St. Joseph County
- Housing units authorised by permit, 2024180
- Declared construction value permitted$51.1 m
- Single family units authorised102
- Multifamily units authorised78
- Multifamily share of units43.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$284,016
- Units authorised per 1,000 households7.6
Multifamily is 43.3 percent of units authorised, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
St. Joseph County
How much SBA lending happens in St. Joseph County
- 7(a) approvals recorded54
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$24.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$456,044
- Median 7(a) approval$180,000
- 10th percentile approval$30,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,504,600
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)593
- Jobs per approval11.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active24
- Distinct industries receiving approvals37
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer14.8 percent
- Loans on real estate terms8
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter41
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals1.9 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (4)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (15)
- 504 approvals recorded18
- 504 gross approval dollars$11.3 m
- Average 504 approval$627,167
- Median 504 approval$452,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval6.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.5
- Most active CDCMichigan Certified Development Corporation (9)
- 7(a) share of SBA approvals75.0 percent
- Combined SBA approval dollars$35.9 m
The average approval of $456,044 sits well above the median of $180,000, so a small number of large deals is pulling the mean up. The median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here actually gets. Only 14.8 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
St. Joseph County
Do SBA loans in St. Joseph County get paid back
- Loans with a final outcome recorded14
- Paid in full13
- Charged off1
- Charge off rate on resolved loans7.1 percent
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full13
- Status: Exempt from disclosure27
- Status: Cancelled9
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed4
Of the 14 loans that have reached a final outcome, 7.1 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
St. Joseph County
Which parts of St. Joseph County get the lending
- Places in the county with recorded lending9
- STURGIS, approvals20
- THREE RIVERS, approvals19
- CENTREVILLE, approvals3
- Mendon, approvals3
- White Pigeon, approvals3
- Centerville, approvals2
| Place | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| STURGIS | 20 | $10,010,300 |
| THREE RIVERS | 19 | $7,741,700 |
| CENTREVILLE | 3 | $445,600 |
| Mendon | 3 | $327,000 |
| White Pigeon | 3 | $5,223,800 |
| Centerville | 2 | $80,000 |
| Three Rivers, | 2 | $93,000 |
| Constantine | 1 | $30,000 |
STURGIS accounts for 20 approvals against 19 in THREE RIVERS. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
St. Joseph County
How big is St. Joseph County
- Land area501 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Michigan counties71st of 83
- Width, east to west25.7 mi
- Height, north to south21.6 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary3
- Residents per square mile of land122
- Establishments per square mile2.29
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
St. Joseph County
What hazards affect St. Joseph County
- EPA radon zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
- Communities in the NFIP Community Status Book22
- Of those, participating in the NFIP19
- NFIP participation rate86.4 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 10
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
The EPA places the county in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The best Community Rating System class in the county is 10, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for properties in the participating community.
US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001. FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book, Community Status Book, as retrieved.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Every item below could be filled with a plausible figure. None of them is. On a page a lender may read, a number that cannot be traced is worse than an absence, so the absences are named.
- Flood zone record counts are not held. The flood coverage export has not landed, so no count is shown rather than an estimated one.
- Traffic counts resolve in the platform, not in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here.
- Zoning is in build. Parcel level zoning is not published on this page.
Feasibility studies
When a St. Joseph County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a St. Joseph County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population60,969
- Households23,620
- Average household size2.58
- Median household income$66,425
- Median age39.9
Common questions
St. Joseph County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in St. Joseph County, Michigan?
60,969, in 23,620 households, ranking 33rd of 83 Michigan counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is St. Joseph County growing?
The population has grown 0.38 percent since the 2020 census base. In 2024 there were 739 births against 699 deaths, with net migration of 72. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in St. Joseph County?
$66,425. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $178,300, which is 2.7 times income, and median gross rent is $849 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are there in St. Joseph County?
1,149 establishments, employing 19,429 people with an annual payroll of $1.06 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is the average wage in St. Joseph County?
Average annual pay is $53,550, or $1,030 a week, across 21,098 covered jobs. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in St. Joseph County?
54 7(a) approvals totalling $24.6 m since FY2020, across 24 lenders, with a median approval of $180,000, plus 18 504 approvals worth $11.3 m. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in St. Joseph County get paid back?
Of the 14 loans that have reached a final outcome, 13 were paid in full and 1 charged off, a charge off rate of 7.1 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
What is being built in St. Joseph County?
180 housing units were authorised by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $51.1 m. Multifamily was 43.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for St. Joseph County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to St. Joseph County come from?
The largest single origin is St. Joseph County Non-migrants, with 22,858 households. Arriving households report an average income of $57,369 against null for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for St. Joseph County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for St. Joseph County?
Not yet. The zoning layer is in build. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame with confirm locally attached.