St. Joseph: Economy & Jobs
Households in St. Joseph earn a median $49,112 (1.1× below Lawrence County median $54,706; 1.5× below Tennessee median $71,516), with homes at a median value of $171,300. The surrounding county supports 11,816 jobs (avg $45,770).
- $56,896 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income.
Income & Affordability
Median household income $49,112 — below the Tennessee median ($71,516). Poverty rate 13.8% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 32% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 3.5× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 15.3% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 32.3% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 13.8% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 2.1% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $18,370 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $1,045,188 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $56,896 |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $53,313 |
| Median Household Income | $49,112 (vs Tennessee $71,516) |
| Poverty Rate | 13.8% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | blue_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Manufacturing |
| Economic Character · Income Level | working-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $49,112 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 0.5% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 5% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 5.0% |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Primary Mode | drove alone |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 11,816 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $540,801,941 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $45,770 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 3,219,060 |
| Unemployment Rate | 0.5% (vs Tennessee 5.1%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 27 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 12,511 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 463.40 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Grain, Animal Totals, Poultry Totals, Corn |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 779 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 9,485 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 378,843 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 7 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 7 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 35 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 16 |
| Local Businesses · Used Car Dealers | 13 |
| Local Businesses · Beauty Salons | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 11 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 18 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 33 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 8 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (10)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (3)
| Nearest Snap · Name | SHAFFER FARMS CUSTOM MEATS |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 57 |
Sources: USDA SNAP — county FIPS aggregate
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | LAWRENCE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $271,633,812 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 6,151.27 |
| Federal Spending · Population | 44,159 people |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 79.2% |
|---|---|
| Pct Walked | 5.0% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 39.6 years (at Tennessee median) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 35.8% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | good |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12