St. Joseph, Missouri Income Statistics
St. Joseph Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
St. Joseph Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | St. Joseph | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $57,810 | $70,801 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,046 | $54,686 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.6% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.6% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.9% | 8.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in St. Joseph is about 18% lower than in Missouri. Income has been growing slower in St. Joseph (3.6%/yr) than in Missouri (4.6%/yr).
About 6% of adults in St. Joseph earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Missouri average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in St. Joseph, Missouri grew by 46.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $57,810 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in St. Joseph
| Metric | St. Joseph | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.528 | 0.532 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $53,037 | $64,288 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,563 | $51,060 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 8.4% | 20.6% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In St. Joseph, it is 0.528, about the same as Missouri's 0.532, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 9% more than women's income in St. Joseph, Missouri. Over a 35-year career, a 9% wage gap accumulates to roughly $156,590 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in St. Joseph, Missouri has narrowed from about 24% to 8% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2015, and was narrowest at 8% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $4,704 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | St. Joseph | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4% | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.2% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 1,431 people are unemployed in St. Joseph, Missouri.
The average commute time in St. Joseph is 13 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Missouri.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in St. Joseph, Missouri has fallen from 7.8% to 4.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.0% in 2014.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, St. Joseph, Missouri has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Missouri, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in St. Joseph, Missouri.
How Rich Is St. Joseph, Missouri?
St. Joseph has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $57,810, about 18% lower than the Missouri average of $70,801.
How has median household income changed in St. Joseph, Missouri?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in St. Joseph, Missouri rose 46%, from $39,495 to $57,810. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Missouri as a whole: +46% against +54%.
What was the median household income in St. Joseph in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in St. Joseph, Missouri was $55,593, up 2% from $54,618 in 2022. The Missouri median that year was $69,047.
What was the median household income in St. Joseph in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in St. Joseph, Missouri was $48,477. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $57,810.
What is the Gini coefficient in St. Joseph, Missouri?
The Gini coefficient in St. Joseph is 0.528. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in St. Joseph, Missouri?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in St. Joseph, Missouri has narrowed from about 24% to 8% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2015, and was narrowest at 8% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $4,704 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →