Howard County, Indiana
Formed in 1844 and named for T.A. Howard, Indiana representative to Congress
County Seat: Kokomo
Largest City: Kokomo (2023 population: 59,890)
Population per Square Mile: 286.02
Square Miles: 293.10
Go to county's in.gov site
| Population over Time | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Yesterday (2020) | 83,658 | 18 | 1.3% | 6,484,050 |
| Today (2023) | 83,831 | 20 | 1.2% | 6,862,199 |
| Tomorrow (2030 projection)* | 84,281 | 21 | 1.2% | 7,013,509 |
| Percent Change 2020 to Today | 0.2% | 36 | | 1.1% |
*Projection based on 2020 Census population estimates.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Components of Population Change, 2022-2023 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Net Domestic Migration | 501 | 10 | | 4,599 |
| Net International Migration | 58 | 31 | | 17,869 |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | -270 | 89 | -3.6% | 7,508 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Population Estimates by Age, 2023 | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Preschool (0 to 4) | 4,945 | 19 | 5.9% | 5.9% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 14,300 | 21 | 17.1% | 17.2% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 6,775 | 21 | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 20,314 | 21 | 24.2% | 25.8% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 20,611 | 20 | 24.6% | 24.2% |
| Seniors (65 and older) | 16,886 | 18 | 20.1% | 17.2% |
| Median Age | 40.3 | | | Median Age = 38.2 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2023 | Number | Rank of | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native Alone | 426 | 20 | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Asian Alone | 1,133 | 22 | 1.4% | 2.9% |
| Black Alone | 7,010 | 16 | 8.4% | 10.4% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 57 | 23 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| White | 72,422 | 22 | 86.4% | 83.7% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 2,783 | 18 | 3.3% | 2.5% |
| Non-Hispanic | 80,259 | 19 | 95.7% | 91.2% |
| Hispanic | 3,572 | 26 | 4.3% | 8.8% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Household Types | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Households in 2023 (Includes detail not shown below) | 35,129 | 18 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Married With Children | 5,017 | 25 | 14.3% | 18.1% |
| Married Without Children | 9,699 | 23 | 27.6% | 29.3% |
| Single Parents | 3,506 | 18 | 10.0% | 8.9% |
| Living Alone | 11,407 | 18 | 32.5% | 29.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Housing | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Total Housing Units in 2023 (estimate) | 40,023 | 18 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Housing Units in 2023 (includes vacant units) | 39,795 | 18 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Owner Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 25,247 | 19 | 63.4% | 63.9% |
| Median Value (2023) | $151,500 | 61 | | |
Renter Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 9,882 | 19 | 24.8% | 26.9% |
| Median Rent (2023) | $720 | 25 | | |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Education | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| School Enrollment (2023/2024 Total Reported) | 13,379 | 22 | 1.2% | 1,124,877 |
| Public | 12,893 | 20 | 1.2% | 1,032,265 |
| Adults (25+ in 2023 ACS) | 57,874 | 18 | 1.3% | 4,559,304 |
| with High School diploma or higher | 92.1% | 19 | | 90.2% |
| with B.A. or higher degree | 20% | 43 | | 28.8% |
Sources: Indiana Department of Education; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Income and Poverty | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Per Capita Personal Income (annual) in 2023 | $50,368 | 72 | 82.2% | 61,243 |
| Median Household Income in 2022 | 56,960 | 79 | 85.3% | $66,768 |
| Poverty Rate in 2022 | 15.2% | 14 | 121.6% | 12.5% |
| Poverty Rate among Children under 18 | 21.2% | 6 | 137.7% | 15.4% |
| Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 2024 | 83 | 13 | 1.7% | 4,813 |
| Food Stamp Recipients in 2024 | 10,595 | 12 | 1.7% | 608,295 |
| Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2023/2024 | 6,387 | 16 | 1.3% | 497,203 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Family Social Services Administration; Indiana Department of Education
| Health and Vital Statistics | Number | Rank of | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Births, 2021 | 971 | 19 | 1.2% | 79,946 |
| Births to Teens, 2021 | 59 | 13 | 1.5% | 3,845 |
| Deaths, 2019 | 1,121 | 17 | 1.7% | 66,005 |
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
| Labor Force, 2023 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Total Resident Labor Force | 33,780 | 24 | 1.0% | 3,401,387 |
| Employed | 32,090 | 24 | 1.0% | 3,288,017 |
| Unemployed | 1,690 | 18 | 1.5% | 113,370 |
| Annual Unemployment Rate | 5.0 | 1 | 151.5% | 3.3 |
| November 2024 Unemployment Rate | 9.3 | 1 | 221.4% | 4.2 |
Source: STATS Indiana, using data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
| Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2023 | Employment | Pct Dist.
in County | Earnings ($000) | Pct Dist.
In County | Avg. Earnings Per Job |
|---|
| Total by place of work | 45,315 | 100.0% | $2,971,816 | 100.0% | $65,581 |
| Wage and Salary | 37,354 | 82.4% | $2,273,005 | 76.5% | $60,850 |
| Farm Proprietors | 359 | 0.8% | $22,279 | 0.7% | $62,058 |
| Nonfarm Proprietors | 7,602 | 16.8% | $187,872 | 6.3% | $24,713 |
| Farm | 432 | 1.0% | $28,351 | 1.0% | $65,627 |
| Nonfarm | 44,883 | 99.0% | $2,943,465 | 99.0% | $65,581 |
| Private | 39,916 | 88.1% | $2,659,054 | 89.5% | $66,616 |
| Accommodation, Food Serv. | 4,331 | 9.6% | $110,248 | 3.7% | $25,456 |
| Arts, Ent., Recreation | 445 | 1.0% | $5,245 | 0.2% | $11,787 |
| Construction | 1,903 | 4.2% | $128,223 | 4.3% | $67,379 |
| Health Care, Social Serv. | 5,572 | 12.3% | $392,787 | 13.2% | $70,493 |
| Information | 288 | 0.6% | $18,910 | 0.6% | $65,660 |
| Manufacturing | 9,323 | 20.6% | $1,219,092 | 41.0% | $130,762 |
| Professional, Tech. Serv. | 1,395 | 3.1% | $72,035 | 2.4% | $51,638 |
| Retail Trade | 5,410 | 11.9% | $192,096 | 6.5% | $35,508 |
| Trans., Warehousing | 1,382 | 3.0% | $63,674 | 2.1% | $46,074 |
| Wholesale Trade | 981 | 2.2% | $96,436 | 3.2% | $98,304 |
| Other Private (not above) | 8,739* | 19.3%* | $356,229* | 12.0%* | $40,763* |
| Government | 4,967 | 11.0% | $284,411 | 9.6% | $57,260 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
* These totals do not include county data that are not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.
| Residential Building Permits, 2023 | Units | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State | Cost ($000) | State Cost ($000) |
|---|
| Total Permits Filed | 138 | 100.0% | 100.0% | $39,522 | $7,695,489 |
| Single-Family | 114 | 82.6% | 63.0% | $33,317 | $5,961,199 |
| 2-Family | 24 | 17.4% | 2.0% | 6,206 | $99,053 |
| 3- and 4-Family | 0 | 0.0% | 0.9% | $0 | $40,460 |
| 5+ Family | 0 | 0.0% | 34.2% | $0 | $1,594,777 |
Notes: Detail cost may not sum to total due to rounding. Greene County does not currently issue building permits, so it is excluded.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Largest Cities and Towns in Howard County
| Name | Population
in 2023 | Percent of County |
|---|
| Greentown | 2,405 | 2.9% |
| Kokomo | 59,890 | 71.4% |
| Russiaville | 1,310 | 1.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates
