RANK #160 / 996 · POP 60,887 · MI
PROJECTED GROWTH: +2.4%
Three Rivers, the largest city in St. Joseph County, Michigan, is known for its unique position at the confluence of the St. Joseph, Portage, and Rocky Rivers. This southwestern Michigan county is characterized by picturesque landscapes, including numerous lakes, lush forests, and rolling hills, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, hiking, and camping. St. Joseph County is located about 30 miles south of Kalamazoo and 90 miles east of Chicago. Commute options within the county include a local transportation authority offering fixed routes and county-wide services, with connections to Kalamazoo County. The community maintains a small-town feel, with residents taking pride in their county and participating in local events and festivals.
Life in St. Joseph County offers a blend of natural beauty and community focus. The public school districts, including Three Rivers Community Schools and Sturgis Public Schools, are generally well-regarded. The economy has seen investment in various sectors, with efforts to support redevelopment and foster job creation. The area's economic health is tied to regional trends, with employment-to-population ratios returning to pre-pandemic levels across Southwest Michigan. Industries such as manufacturing and construction have experienced employment gains.
Below national median (4.7x)
Contracting economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 4.1x 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 |
|
Spectrum Fiber Broadband Network Expansion
Spectrum
|
$7,000M | Under Construction |
|
Microsoft Data Center Campus (Granger)
Microsoft
|
$1,000M | Planned |
|
Three Lakes Solar Energy Park with BESS
Three Lakes Solar, LLC (subsidiary of EDP Renewables)
|
$600M | Proposed |
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 #160 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -1.4% and a median household income of $62,281, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in St. Joseph County is $152,800 with median rent at $811/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.4076, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.1% year-over-year. Job growth: -1.4%. Home values changed +3.8% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.64% of St. Joseph County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.