Howard County, Indiana
Formed in 1844 and named for T.A. Howard, Indiana representative to Congress
County Seat: Kokomo
Largest City: Kokomo (2024 population: 60,093)
Population per Square Mile: 286.87
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 (2024) | 84,082 | 20 | 1.2% | 6,924,275 |
| Tomorrow (2030 projection)* | 84,281 | 21 | 1.2% | 7,013,509 |
| Percent Change 2020 to Today | 0.5% | 35 | | 2.0% |
*Projection based on 2020 Census population estimates.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Components of Population Change, 2023-2024 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Net Domestic Migration | 394 | 14 | | 4,268 |
| Net International Migration | 52 | 41 | | 30,852 |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | -218 | 89 | -2.4% | 9,159 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Population Estimates by Age, 2024 | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Preschool (0 to 4) | 4,735 | 21 | 5.6% | 5.9% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 14,315 | 21 | 17.0% | 17.0% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 6,757 | 21 | 8.0% | 9.7% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 20,637 | 22 | 24.5% | 25.9% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 20,359 | 20 | 24.2% | 23.9% |
| Seniors (65 and older) | 17,279 | 18 | 20.6% | 17.5% |
| Median Age | 40.4 | | | Median Age = 38.3 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2024 | Number | Rank of | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native Alone | 438 | 20 | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Asian Alone | 1,195 | 22 | 1.4% | 3.1% |
| Black Alone | 6,971 | 17 | 8.3% | 10.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 60 | 24 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| White | 72,530 | 22 | 86.3% | 83.2% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 2,888 | 18 | 3.4% | 2.5% |
| Non-Hispanic | 80,239 | 19 | 95.4% | 90.9% |
| Hispanic | 3,843 | 26 | 4.6% | 9.1% |
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 2024 (estimate) | 40,114 | 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 (2024/2025 Total Reported) | 13,231 | 22 | 1.2% | 1,132,621 |
| Public | 12,786 | 20 | 1.2% | 1,033,552 |
| 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 2023 | 61,548 | 68 | 88.6% | $69,458 |
| Poverty Rate in 2023 | 12.7% | 32 | 104.1% | 12.2% |
| Poverty Rate among Children under 18 | 18.1% | 20 | 119.9% | 15.1% |
| 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 2024/2025 | 6,223 | 18 | 1.3% | 488,145 |
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, 2024 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Total Resident Labor Force | 36,783 | 24 | 1.1% | 3,455,992 |
| Employed | 34,251 | 24 | 1.0% | 3,310,992 |
| Unemployed | 2,532 | 15 | 1.7% | 145,000 |
| Annual Unemployment Rate | 6.9 | 1 | 164.3% | 4.2 |
| May 2025 Unemployment Rate | 5.6 | 1 | 164.7% | 3.4 |
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, 2024 | Units | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State | Cost ($000) | State Cost ($000) |
|---|
| Total Permits Filed | 194 | 100.0% | 100.0% | $55,548 | $8,133,071 |
| Single-Family | 182 | 93.8% | 75.4% | $53,904 | $6,951,719 |
| 2-Family | 4 | 2.1% | 1.9% | 694 | $100,498 |
| 3- and 4-Family | 8 | 4.1% | 0.8% | $950 | $45,624 |
| 5+ Family | 0 | 0.0% | 21.9% | $0 | $1,035,231 |
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 2024 | Percent of County |
|---|
| Greentown | 2,405 | 2.9% |
| Kokomo | 60,093 | 71.5% |
| Russiaville | 1,314 | 1.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates
Hoosiers by the Numbers