1st Advantage MortgageAbout 71% of Howard County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $64,027. Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Howard County offer.
On this page
- Howard County, IN: the basics
- Income in Howard County compared with Indiana
- Rent, home values and ownership in Howard County
- How Howard County ranks in Indiana
- Employment and commuting in Howard County
- Towns and communities in Howard County
- The counties around Howard County
- Budget math at the Howard County median
- More Howard County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Howard County
- A Howard County borrower's checklist
- Indiana lender licensing
- More guides for Howard County
- Frequently asked questions
Howard County, IN: the basics
Howard County is home to about 83,752 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 19th most populous of 92 county-level areas in Indiana. Packed into 293 square miles, that is close to 286 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Kokomo, IN metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Kokomo (59,122 people) heads the county's list of 3 Census places, 3 incorporated and 0 census-designated.
Income in Howard County compared with Indiana
Median household income in Howard County: $64,027 (11% below Indiana, $71,957). That places it 66th among Indiana's 92 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Howard County | +/- vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.7% | +3.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.1% | +2.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.4% | -2.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -3.4 pts |
26% under $35,000 and 28% at $100,000 or more: that is the Howard County income split. Howard County counts about 11,231 residents below the poverty line, 13.4% of the population. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.441 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Rent, home values and ownership in Howard County
A typical Howard County rental runs $937 a month including utilities, which is 12% below Indiana. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 51% in Howard County, 48% statewide. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $165,000, about 2.6 times the median household income. Homeowners 71%, renters 29%.
| Measure | Howard County | Indiana | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $937/mo | $1,062/mo | 12% lower |
| Median home value | $165,000 | $218,200 | 24% lower |
| Owners | 71% | 71% | 0.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 48% | +3.3 pts |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 20% | -3.1 pts |
| Mobile homes | 3.2% | 4.4% | -1.1 pts |
With rent burdens at 51%, keep any Howard County loan to the smallest amount that solves the problem.
How Howard County ranks in Indiana
Where Howard County lands at the extremes of Indiana's county rankings:
- On the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent, Howard County sits near the top of Indiana at 51%, 8th highest of 92. Make sure a consolidation loan lowers what you pay each month.
- Few Indiana counties match Howard County on the ACS unemployment rate: 5.8% here, 4.3% for the state, ranking 9th highest of 92. Job gaps can make income hard to document; gather records first.
- Homeownership: 71% in Howard County. Only 12 of 92 Indiana counties are lower. In a renter-heavy county, unsecured loans and cards are the main options.
Employment and commuting in Howard County
Top Howard County industry by residents employed: manufacturing, 24%; second, education and health care, 23%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 24% locally and 18% for Indiana. Unemployment in Howard County, ACS five-year: 5.8%; Indiana: 4.3%. 13% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. No car: 7.3% of Howard County households.
| Sector | Howard County | Compared with Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 24.0% | +6.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 22.9% | -0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | +0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.9% | +1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.2% | -3.0 pts |
| Other services | 6.2% | +1.6 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Towns and communities in Howard County
Here are the 3 most populous of the county's 3 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 75% of Howard County residents live in one of the 3. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $29,097, Russiaville over Kokomo. Median rent ranges from $850 in Greentown to $939 in Kokomo. No Howard County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kokomo | city | 59,122 | $55,360 | $939 | 2 mi |
| Greentown | town | 2,094 | $60,521 | $850 | 8 mi |
| Russiaville | town | 1,445 | $84,457 | $931 | 9 mi |
The counties around Howard County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Howard County's, from 12 to 25 miles away. Howard County's $64,027 median trails 3 of the six and beats 3; the range runs $53,522 (Grant County) to $76,156 (Tipton County).
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County | - | $64,027 | $937/mo | 71% |
| Tipton County, IN | 12 mi | $76,156 | $842/mo | 81% |
| Miami County, IN | 20 mi | $61,139 | $838/mo | 76% |
| Cass County, IN | 23 mi | $56,403 | $783/mo | 74% |
| Clinton County, IN | 23 mi | $65,019 | $920/mo | 74% |
| Grant County, IN | 24 mi | $53,522 | $853/mo | 73% |
| Carroll County, IN | 25 mi | $65,645 | $890/mo | 82% |
Budget math at the Howard County median
Howard County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $5,336 gross per month ($64,027 / 12)
- 18% goes to median rent ($937)
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,357 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Howard County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
More Howard County figures
Bachelor's degree or higher: 21% of Howard County adults. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Howard County | vs Indiana | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.8% | -8.7 pts | -1.3 pts |
| Work from home | 6.0% | -4.7 pts | -2.7 pts |
| Median age | 40.7 | +2.6 yrs | -0.8 yrs |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | -1.7 pts | -2.2 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.8% | +1.6 pts | +1.4 pts |
| No high school diploma | 8.2% | -1.4 pts | n/a |
| Poverty rate | 13.4% | +1.1 pts | +0.2 pts |
| No vehicle | 7.3% | +1.1 pts | +1.9 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.8% |
| 60+ min | 6.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Howard County
What the Howard County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- 51% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
A Howard County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Howard County residents:
- Price the Howard County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Howard County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Indiana borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Indiana lender licensing
Before sharing details with a lender, a Howard County resident can confirm its license with the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. Nationally, Howard County residents can file with the CFPB. State-level detail for Howard County borrowers is in the Indiana guide.
More guides for Howard County
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Howard County earn?
The median is $64,027; 28% earn $100,000 or more and 26% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Howard County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $937 a month; 51% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Howard County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 71% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Kokomo?
Yes, along with the other 2 Census places in Howard County, such as Greentown, Russiaville.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Howard County or elsewhere in Indiana, the same rules apply.