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 2022 (Includes detail not shown below) | 34,957 | 18 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Married With Children | 5,036 | 25 | 14.4% | 18.1% |
| Married Without Children | 10,197 | 22 | 29.2% | 29.6% |
| Single Parents | 3,336 | 18 | 9.5% | 9.0% |
| Living Alone | 10,939 | 18 | 31.3% | 29.4% |
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 2022 (includes vacant units) | 39,613 | 18 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Owner Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 25,052 | 19 | 63.2% | 63.5% |
| Median Value (2022) | $143,100 | 61 | | |
Renter Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 9,905 | 18 | 25.0% | 27.1% |
| Median Rent (2022) | $689 | 26 | | |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Education | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| School Enrollment (2022/2023 Total Reported) | 13,340 | 22 | 1.2% | 1,124,094 |
| Public | 12,911 | 20 | 1.2% | 1,035,718 |
| Adults (25+ in 2022 ACS) | 57,679 | 18 | 1.3% | 4,532,091 |
| with High School diploma or higher | 91.3% | 26 | | 90% |
| with B.A. or higher degree | 19.8% | 40 | | 28.2% |
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 2022 | $47,388 | 75 | 81.3% | 58,323 |
| 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 2022 | 77 | 11 | 1.9% | 3,933 |
| Food Stamp Recipients in 2022 | 10,828 | 12 | 1.8% | 611,203 |
| Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2022/2023 | 6,678 | 17 | 1.3% | 511,735 |
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 |
| August 2024 Unemployment Rate | 11.0 | 1 | 250.0% | 4.4 |
Source: STATS Indiana, using data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
| Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2022 | Employment | Pct Dist.
in County | Earnings ($000) | Pct Dist.
In County | Avg. Earnings Per Job |
|---|
| Total by place of work | 45,315 | 100.0% | $2,741,860 | 100.0% | $60,507 |
| Wage and Salary | 37,354 | 82.4% | $2,115,645 | 77.2% | $56,638 |
| Farm Proprietors | 359 | 0.8% | $24,594 | 0.9% | $68,507 |
| Nonfarm Proprietors | 7,602 | 16.8% | $151,954 | 5.5% | $19,989 |
| Farm | 432 | 1.0% | $28,822 | 1.1% | $66,718 |
| Nonfarm | 44,883 | 99.0% | $2,713,038 | 98.9% | $60,447 |
| Private | 39,916 | 88.1% | $2,437,200 | 88.9% | $61,058 |
| Accommodation, Food Serv. | 4,331 | 9.6% | $104,950 | 3.8% | $24,232 |
| Arts, Ent., Recreation | 445 | 1.0% | $4,718 | 0.2% | $10,602 |
| Construction | 1,903 | 4.2% | $105,252 | 3.8% | $55,308 |
| Health Care, Social Serv. | 5,572 | 12.3% | $372,819 | 13.6% | $66,909 |
| Information | 288 | 0.6% | $15,350 | 0.6% | $53,299 |
| Manufacturing | 9,323 | 20.6% | $1,094,341 | 39.9% | $117,381 |
| Professional, Tech. Serv. | 1,395 | 3.1% | $66,894 | 2.4% | $47,953 |
| Retail Trade | 5,410 | 11.9% | $186,794 | 6.8% | $34,528 |
| Trans., Warehousing | 1,382 | 3.0% | $56,262 | 2.1% | $40,711 |
| Wholesale Trade | 981 | 2.2% | $86,937 | 3.2% | $88,621 |
| Other Private (not above) | 8,739* | 19.3%* | $339,309* | 12.4%* | $38,827* |
| Government | 4,967 | 11.0% | $275,838 | 10.1% | $55,534 |
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
