RANK #101 / 1001 NAT · #5 / 28 IN · POP 273,040
1YR FORECAST: +3.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +36%
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.
St. Joseph County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +5.0% matches the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing is fairly valued at 7.0x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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 1001 counties.
St. Joseph County ranks #101 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 90/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +0.7% and a median household income of $66,868 point to a county with active economic momentum.
Housing in St. Joseph County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $192,800 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.35, with rents averaging $1,062/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in St. Joseph County are both close to flat — population +0.2% YoY and jobs +0.7%. Home values shifted +5.0% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
Not particularly — 1.78% of St. Joseph County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.