RANK #157 / 996 · POP 272,388 · IN
PROJECTED GROWTH: +2.4%
The University of Notre Dame, with its iconic Golden Dome, is a central feature of St. Joseph County, Indiana, often the first thing locals mention. Located in north-central Indiana, the county seat, South Bend, is approximately 96 miles east of Chicago, with commuter rail service available to downtown Chicago from South Bend International Airport. The community offers a blend of urban amenities in South Bend and Mishawaka, alongside quieter rural towns like New Carlisle and Walkerton. The St. Joseph River, which gives the county its name, flows through the area, contributing to the natural scenery and providing opportunities for outdoor recreation like paddling and hiking in parks such as St. Patrick's County Park. Life in St. Joseph County offers a balance of educational opportunities and a developing economy. The area is home to several higher education institutions, including the University of Notre Dame, Indiana University–South Bend, and Saint Mary's College. The economy is experiencing growth, particularly in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and technology. Recent developments indicate investment in large-scale projects, including manufacturing and data centers, contributing to job creation and economic activity.
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 2.9x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
AWS Data Center Campus (New Carlisle)
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
|
$11,000M | Under Construction |
|
GM-Samsung SDI EV Battery Plant (New Carlisle)
General Motors & Samsung SDI
|
$3,500M | Under Construction |
|
Microsoft Data Center (Granger)
Microsoft
|
$1,000M | Planned |
|
St. Joseph Energy Center (Natural Gas Power Plant)
Wabash Valley Power Alliance and Hoosier Energy (formerly Ares Management, KPIC USA, Toyota Tsusho)
|
$700M | Operating |
|
Honeysuckle Solar Project
Lightsource BP
|
$165M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
St. Joseph County has a Boom Town Index score of 84/100, ranking #157 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.1% and a median household income of $61,877, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in St. Joseph County is $165,700 with median rent at $969/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3734, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.1% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.1%. Home values changed +3.8% in the past 12 months.