The Town FilesKokomo, Indiana
City in Howard County · population 59,604 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $137,400
- Household income
- $55,360
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 39.4
Kokomo is a city of 59,604 people in Howard County, Indiana. The median home is worth $137,400, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks more vibrant than 93% of Indiana towns, better for cycling than 86% of Indiana towns, more walkable than 83% of Indiana towns.
How Kokomo ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Kokomo is worth $137,400, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $55,360, which is more affordable than 52% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $939 a month. 63.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kokomo | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $137,400 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $939 | $888 |
| Median household income | $55,360 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 63.0% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Kokomo
| People | Kokomo | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.1% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.1% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 19.1 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.8% | 89.2% |
Weather in Kokomo
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 16.7°F. About 44.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.1 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 131 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kokomo since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 9.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 18 deaths and 610 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 31, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on March 14, 2024.
Severe weather in Howard County since 1996
Howard County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4704: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
| March 12, 2007 | Snowstorm | EM-3274: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Howard County
Howard County had 35,758 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,420 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Kokomo itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Kokomo
22 public schools with 8,785 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kokomo High School | 9-12 | 1,472 | 12.9 |
| Lafayette Park Elementary School | PK-5 | 680 | 14.8 |
| Northwestern Elementary School | K-6 | 665 | 18.0 |
| Northwestern Senior High School | 9-12 | 554 | 13.9 |
| Taylor Elementary School | PK-4 | 467 | 18.7 |
| Central Middle School | 6-8 | 432 | 15.4 |
| Maple Crest Middle School | 6-8 | 419 | 15.5 |
| Excel Center - Kokomo (charter) | 9-12 | 383 | 22.5 |
| Boulevard Elementary School | PK-5 | 372 | 15.5 |
| Taylor Middle School | 5-8 | 372 | 13.8 |
| Taylor High School | 9-12 | 368 | 14.7 |
| Elwood Haynes Elementary School | PK-5 | 365 | 16.6 |
Towns near Kokomo
- Grissom AFB, IN13.3 mi · 3,009 people · home $79,000
- Tipton, IN13.4 mi · 5,275 people · home $161,700
- Elwood, IN20.2 mi · 8,410 people · home $97,800
- Peru, IN20.5 mi · 11,073 people · home $92,500
- Sheridan, IN21.5 mi · 3,106 people · home $195,600
- Logansport, IN22.9 mi · 18,366 people · home $92,200
- Cicero, IN24.2 mi · 5,301 people · home $282,100
- Frankfort, IN25.1 mi · 16,715 people · home $138,600
Kokomo questions
Is Kokomo, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kokomo scores better for retirees than 19% of Indiana towns and quieter than 7%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Kokomo?
The median owner-occupied home in Kokomo is valued at $137,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,360, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $939 a month.
What is the weather like in Kokomo?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 16.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.4 inches of precipitation a year and 34.1 inches of snow.
Does Kokomo get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kokomo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)