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Living in
Kokomo.
About
Life in Kokomo
Kokomo offers an affordable Midwest lifestyle with a median home value around $137,400 and median household income of $55,360, though job options are heavily tied to the automotive sector—which means economic resilience depends partly on industry cycles. The manufacturing base includes major Stellantis plants and several tier-one suppliers, providing stable employment for those in technical or production roles, but the college degree rate sits at just 17.2%, so career advancement may require specialized training or trade skills. You'll find a quiet, aging community with a median age of 40 and family-friendly neighborhoods, though single-family households outnumber families with children.
Kokomo at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.1%
Foreign-Born
2.5%
Broadband Internet
87.8%
of households
Population Growth
+0.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.5% foreign-born, most often from Cambodia
Who lives in Kokomo: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Kokomo, the largest foreign-born group is from Cambodia (12.8%), and 1.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.3%
of residents
65 and Older
19.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.9%
of households
Married Couples
31.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.21
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 12% below IN average
Rent, home values, and income in Kokomo
In Kokomo, rent runs 12% below the IN average, and home values are 37% below the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
89.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,075
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
63.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1967
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $181,709 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.9 pts above IN average
Unemployment in Kokomo
Unemployment in Kokomo is 2.9 percentage points higher than the IN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Kokomo Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.1 min avg
How Kokomo residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Kokomo, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 78% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 43 mi
Purdue University Airport (LAF)
Regional airport · few flights11k passengers boarded in 2025
- 54 mi
Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
Medium hub5.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 139 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 45% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Kokomo runs 45% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
476.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,262
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Kokomo Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
63.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Howard County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Howard County, which includes Kokomo, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $195,000 |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $147,000 |
| 2023 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.2M |
| 2022 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2021 | 3 | Heavy Snow | $50,000 |
| 2020 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $33,250 |
| 2019 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $130,500 |
| 2018 | 1 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Howard County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Howard County, which includes Kokomo, is typically good — 241 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
241
per year
Moderate Days
118
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Howard County, county-wide
Climate82°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Kokomo has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and very cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.4"
Annual Snowfall
34.1"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
131
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
138
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 17°F | 2.95" |
| Feb | 37°F | 19°F | 2.43" |
| Mar | 49°F | 28°F | 3.18" |
| Apr | 62°F | 39°F | 4.28" |
| May | 73°F | 50°F | 4.72" |
| Jun | 81°F | 60°F | 5.21" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 4.73" |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 3.85" |
| Sep | 77°F | 53°F | 3.66" |
| Oct | 65°F | 42°F | 3.21" |
| Nov | 50°F | 32°F | 3.33" |
| Dec | 38°F | 23°F | 2.85" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Kokomo
Kokomo has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
6.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Community Howard Regional Health Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Ascension St Vincent Kokomo
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Indiana University Health Tipton Hospital Inc.
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 14 mi away · Tipton
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Kokomo
Kokomo's student/teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 18.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
18.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Kokomo
Public · 4-year · 2,352 students · in-state tuition $8,424 · 49% graduate · median earnings $52,440 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Indiana Dunes National Park, 95 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Kokomo
Kokomo has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Indiana Dunes National Park (95 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Kokomo
Kokomo-Howard County Public Library
220 North Union Street, Kokomo
South Branch Library
1755 East Center Road, Kokomo
Cities Near Kokomo
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Kokomo?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Kokomo FAQ
Is Kokomo, Indiana affordable?⌄
Kokomo's median rent is $939/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $55,360/year. Median home value is $137,400.
Is Kokomo, Indiana safe?⌄
Kokomo's violent crime rate was 477 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1262 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Kokomo, Indiana?⌄
Kokomo has an unemployment rate of 6.6%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Kokomo, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in Kokomo is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $939/month and median household income is $55,360/year. The median home value is $137,400. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Kokomo, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in Kokomo is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from