RANK #107 / 1001 NAT · #5 / 28 IN · POP 83,752
1YR FORECAST: +1.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +23%
Howard County, Indiana, is known for its automotive heritage and as the "City of Firsts," with Kokomo, its largest city, being the birthplace of America's first commercially built car. Located in north-central Indiana, about 50 miles north of Indianapolis, the county offers a suburban feel with a strong sense of community. Commuting within Kokomo is generally manageable by car, and a free public trolley system provides access to many key areas. The county also features parks like Highland Park, home to "Old Ben," the world's largest steer, and trails along Wildcat Creek for outdoor recreation.
Life in Howard County is characterized by an affordable cost of living, which is below the national average, particularly for housing. The public schools in Kokomo are considered above average, with several school corporations serving the county, including Kokomo School Corporation, Eastern Howard School Corporation in Greentown, and Western School Corporation in Russiaville. The economy, historically tied to manufacturing, is experiencing growth driven by investments in advanced manufacturing and the energy sector. This has contributed to an increase in average weekly wages and a growing labor force.
Howard County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +4.8% matches the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Harsh climate or flat terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing is fairly valued at 6.2x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Howard County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
StarPlus Energy Gigafactory (Phase 2)
Stellantis & Samsung SDI
|
$3,200M | Planned |
|
StarPlus Energy Gigafactory (Phase 1)
Stellantis & Samsung SDI
|
$2,500M | Under Construction |
|
Pumpkinvine Battery Energy Storage System
Spearmint Energy
|
$400M | Proposed |
|
Stellantis Transmission Plant Conversion (Electric Drive Modules)
Stellantis
|
$250M | Under Construction |
|
Emerald Green Solar Farm
Engie
|
$200M | Proposed |
|
Locomotive Solar
Ranger Power
|
$120M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Howard County ranks #107 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 89/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 2.7% year-over-year). Median household income here is $64,027.
By national standards, Howard County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $165,000, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.39 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $937/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Howard County's job market is contracting (-2.7% YoY) while population is roughly stable (+0.2% change). Home values are +4.8% over the past 12 months. Hiring headwinds without an offsetting exodus — residents are staying, but local employers are shedding payroll.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.36% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Howard County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.