What are the schools like in St. Joseph, MI?

St. Joseph is served primarily by St. Joseph Public Schools. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 19.5:1.

What is the median household income in St. Joseph?

The median household income in St. Joseph, MI is $79,103 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.4%.

What is the weather like in St. Joseph, MI?

St. Joseph has an average high temperature of 33.2°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 77.7 inches.

St. Joseph, MI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is St. Joseph, MI affordable or expensive?

St. Joseph's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means St. Joseph is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $250,900 and the median rent is $948 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in St. Joseph, MI?

St. Joseph has a violent crime rate of 442.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1534.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is St. Joseph, MI a Good Place to Live?

St. Joseph is a small town of 7,852 in Michigan, with a median household income of $79,103 and a 1.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: St. Joseph stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether St. Joseph is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All St. Joseph city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 97.0

St. Joseph's overall cost of living index is 97.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in St. Joseph costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	St. Joseph, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$250,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$948	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$79,103	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

St. Joseph's violent crime rate is 442.2 per 100,000 residents — 16% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

442.2 /100k

Property Crime

1534.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

St. Joseph is served primarily by St. Joseph Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.5:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	St. Joseph, MI	National Avg
School District	St. Joseph Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	19.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	51.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

St. Joseph sees average highs of 33.2°F in January and 83.1°F in July, with 38.2 inches of annual precipitation and 77.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	St. Joseph, MI
Average High — January	33.2°F
Average High — July	83.1°F
Annual Precipitation	38.2"
Annual Snowfall	77.7"

Demographics

Metric	St. Joseph, MI	National Avg
Population	7,852	—
Median Age	45.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	84.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.7%	18.9%
Asian	4.4%	6.3%
Under 18	14.3%	22.2%
65 and over	22.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Fair Plain, MI 2 mi Benton Harbor, MI 2 mi Shoreham, MI 3 mi Benton Heights, MI 4 mi Stevensville, MI 6 mi

ZIP Codes in St. Joseph

St. Joseph, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

49085

St. Joseph vs Other Cities

St. Joseph, MI vs Fair Plain, MI St. Joseph, MI vs Benton Harbor, MI St. Joseph, MI vs Shoreham, MI St. Joseph, MI vs Benton Heights, MI St. Joseph, MI vs Stevensville, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is St. Joseph, MI affordable or expensive?

St. Joseph's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes St. Joseph roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $250,900 and median rent is $948/month.

What is the crime rate in St. Joseph, MI?

St. Joseph's violent crime rate is 442.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1534.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in St. Joseph?

Public schools in St. Joseph are operated by St. Joseph Public Schools. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.5:1. 51.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is St. Joseph, MI a good place to live?

St. Joseph, MI has a population of 7,852, a median household income of $79,103, and an unemployment rate of 1.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in St. Joseph?

St. Joseph averages 33.2°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.2 inches with about 77.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in St. Joseph?

St. Joseph, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49085.

What is the population of St. Joseph?

The population of St. Joseph, Michigan is 7,852 with a median age of 45.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in St. Joseph?

Key numbers for living in St. Joseph: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $250,900, median household income $79,103, crime index 99 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare St. Joseph side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.