Howard County, Indiana
Formed in 1844 and named for T.A. Howard, Indiana representative to Congress
County Seat: Kokomo
Largest City: Kokomo (2025 population: 59,999)
Population per Square Mile: 286.26
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 (2025) | 83,904 | 20 | 1.2% | 6,973,333 |
| Tomorrow (2030 projection)* | 84,281 | 21 | 1.2% | 7,013,509 |
| Percent Change 2020 to Today | 0.3% | 42 | | 2.8% |
*Projection based on 2020 Census population estimates.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Components of Population Change, 2024-2025 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Net Domestic Migration | 116 | 37 | | 12,197 |
| Net International Migration | 20 | 48 | | 17,852 |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | -251 | 87 | -2.9% | 8,561 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Population Estimates by Age, 2025 | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Preschool (0 to 4) | 4,592 | 21 | 5.5% | 5.8% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 13,844 | 21 | 16.5% | 16.8% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 6,787 | 22 | 8.1% | 9.8% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 20,553 | 22 | 24.5% | 25.6% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 19,972 | 20 | 23.8% | 23.5% |
| Seniors (65 and older) | 18,156 | 18 | 21.6% | 18.4% |
| Median Age | 41.0 | | | Median Age = 38.6 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2025 | Number | Rank of | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native Alone | 464 | 25 | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| Asian Alone | 1,202 | 22 | 1.4% | 3.2% |
| Black Alone | 6,864 | 17 | 8.2% | 10.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 41 | 25 | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| White | 70,704 | 22 | 84.3% | 81.2% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 4,629 | 18 | 5.5% | 4.2% |
| Non-Hispanic | 79,826 | 19 | 95.1% | 90.4% |
| Hispanic | 4,078 | 28 | 4.9% | 9.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Household Types | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Households in 2024 (Includes detail not shown below) | 35,593 | 18 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Married With Children | 5,054 | 25 | 14.2% | 17.9% |
| Married Without Children | 9,046 | 25 | 25.4% | 29.3% |
| Single Parents | 3,582 | 17 | 10.1% | 8.8% |
| Living Alone | 11,917 | 18 | 33.5% | 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 2025 (estimate) | 40,301 | 18 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Housing Units in 2024 (includes vacant units) | 39,876 | 18 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Owner Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 25,119 | 19 | 63.0% | 64.4% |
| Median Value (2024) | $165,000 | 59 | | |
Renter Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 10,474 | 18 | 26.3% | 26.9% |
| Median Rent (2024) | $763 | 24 | | |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Education | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| School Enrollment (2025/2026 Total Reported) | 13,172 | 22 | 1.2% | 1,112,710 |
| Public | 12,796 | 20 | 1.3% | 1,010,042 |
| Adults (25+ in 2024 ACS) | 58,020 | 19 | 1.3% | 4,596,004 |
| with High School diploma or higher | 91.8% | 27 | | 90.4% |
| with B.A. or higher degree | 20.8% | 36 | | 29.5% |
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 2024 | $53,185 | 69 | 83.0% | 64,077 |
| Median Household Income in 2024 | 67,297 | 61 | 93.5% | $71,958 |
| Poverty Rate in 2024 | 13.6% | 24 | 112.4% | 12.1% |
| Poverty Rate among Children under 18 | 18.6% | 18 | 117.7% | 15.8% |
| Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 2025 | 99 | 11 | 2.0% | 4,863 |
| Food Stamp Recipients in 2025 | 10,289 | 12 | 1.8% | 578,293 |
| Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2025/2026 | 6,181 | 18 | 1.3% | 476,608 |
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, 2025 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Total Resident Labor Force | 36,118 | 24 | 1.0% | 3,506,284 |
| Employed | 33,893 | 24 | 1.0% | 3,377,760 |
| Unemployed | 2,225 | 15 | 1.7% | 128,524 |
| Annual Unemployment Rate | 6.2 | 1 | 167.6% | 3.7 |
| June 2026 Unemployment Rate | 5.1 | 1 | 141.7% | 3.6 |
Source: STATS Indiana, using data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
| Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2024 | Employment | Pct Dist.
in County | Earnings ($000) | Pct Dist.
In County | Avg. Earnings Per Job |
|---|
| Total by place of work | 45,315 | 100.0% | $3,188,055 | 100.0% | $70,353 |
| Wage and Salary | 37,354 | 82.4% | $2,435,013 | 76.4% | $65,187 |
| Farm Proprietors | 359 | 0.8% | $7,871 | 0.2% | $21,925 |
| Nonfarm Proprietors | 7,602 | 16.8% | $206,545 | 6.5% | $27,170 |
| Farm | 432 | 1.0% | $14,678 | 0.5% | $33,977 |
| Nonfarm | 44,883 | 99.0% | $3,173,377 | 99.5% | $70,703 |
| Private | 39,916 | 88.1% | $2,869,700 | 90.0% | $71,893 |
| Accommodation, Food Serv. | 4,331 | 9.6% | $117,858 | 3.7% | $27,213 |
| Arts, Ent., Recreation | 445 | 1.0% | $9,695 | 0.3% | $21,787 |
| Construction | 1,903 | 4.2% | $238,754 | 7.5% | $125,462 |
| Health Care, Social Serv. | 5,572 | 12.3% | $425,829 | 13.4% | $76,423 |
| Information | 288 | 0.6% | $22,274 | 0.7% | $77,340 |
| Manufacturing | 9,323 | 20.6% | $1,218,592 | 38.2% | $130,708 |
| Professional, Tech. Serv. | 1,395 | 3.1% | $96,315 | 3.0% | $69,043 |
| Retail Trade | 5,410 | 11.9% | $193,351 | 6.1% | $35,740 |
| Trans., Warehousing | 1,382 | 3.0% | $66,488 | 2.1% | $48,110 |
| Wholesale Trade | 981 | 2.2% | $96,335 | 3.0% | $98,201 |
| Other Private (not above) | 8,739* | 19.3%* | $381,213* | 12.0%* | $43,622* |
| Government | 4,967 | 11.0% | $303,677 | 9.5% | $61,139 |
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, 2025 | Units | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State | Cost ($000) | State Cost ($000) |
|---|
| Total Permits Filed | 106 | 100.0% | 100.0% | $27,827 | $8,792,236 |
| Single-Family | 106 | 100.0% | 68.4% | $27,827 | $7,272,703 |
| 2-Family | 0 | 0.0% | 1.7% | 0 | $80,213 |
| 3- and 4-Family | 0 | 0.0% | 0.6% | $0 | $31,389 |
| 5+ Family | 0 | 0.0% | 29.3% | $0 | $1,407,931 |
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 2025 | Percent of County |
|---|
| Greentown | 2,366 | 2.8% |
| Kokomo | 59,999 | 71.5% |
| Russiaville | 1,312 | 1.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates
Hoosiers by the Numbers