Lake County vs St. Joseph County
Lake County, Indiana versus St. Joseph County, Indiana: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
St. Joseph County edges out Lake County on overall objective livability (51 vs 45 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Lake County | St. Joseph County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $66k | $62k |
| Cost of Living | $44k | $42k |
| Home Value | $195k | $166k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $969 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.98% | 0.88% |
| Income Tax | 4.78% | 5.15% |
| Sales Tax | 7.00% | 7.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.97% | 9.82% |
| Unemployment | 6.7% | 4.8% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 26°F | 25°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 76°F | 72°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.0 in | 40.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 29.3 in | 53.5 in |
| Sunny Days | 237 days | 208 days |
| Summer Humidity | 63°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 87 days | 98 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 95.9 | 85.8 |
| Air Quality | 55 AQI | 51 AQI |
| School Quality | 51.7 | 51.4 |
| Violent Crime | 1088/100k | 751/100k |
| Property Crime | 1411/100k | 994/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 497,682 | 272,388 |
| Median Age | 39.3 | 36.7 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.59 | 0.43 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.96 |
| Political Leaning | D+15 | Even |
| White (%) | 52.6% | 70.6% |
| Black (%) | 23.0% | 12.6% |
| Hispanic (%) | 20.2% | 9.5% |
| Asian (%) | 1.5% | 2.5% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 2.7% | 4.7% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 29 min | 21 min |
| Walkability | 8.0/20 | 7.4/20 |
| Airport Distance | 31 mi | 76 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 86.4% | 85.5% |
| Amenities Nearby | 1.25 | 1.58 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Lake County or St. Joseph County more affordable?
- St. Joseph County has the lower cost of living: its index is $42k, compared with Lake County's $44k and St. Joseph County's $42k. Median rent is $1k in Lake County versus $969 in St. Joseph County.
- Is Lake County or St. Joseph County safer?
- St. Joseph County has the lower violent crime rate. Lake County reports 1088/100k and St. Joseph County reports 751/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Lake County or St. Joseph County?
- The median home value is $195k in Lake County and $166k in St. Joseph County, so homes are more affordable in St. Joseph County.