Howard County, Indiana: commercial real estate data.
Howard County, Indiana had an estimated 84,082 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.5 percent since the 2020 census base of 83,660, across 293 square miles. County output reached $5.50 bn in 2024, 1,813 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 81 7(a) approvals worth $48.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Howard County
How many people live in Howard County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202483,752
- Households35,593
- Average household size2.35
- Median household income$64,027
- Median age40.7
- Median gross rent$937 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$165,000
- Home value to household income2.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher20.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over58,020
- Population under 1819,135
- Share under 1822.8 percent
- Population 65 and over16,632
- Share 65 and over19.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6447,985
- Civilian labor force39,175
- Unemployment rate5.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over60.6 percent
- Rank by population among Indiana counties19th of 92
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included699th of 3,222
Howard County is the 19th largest of 92 Indiana counties by population. A median home costs 2.6 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.8 percent against 19.9 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Howard County
Is Howard County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202484,082
- Census 2020 base population83,660
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.50 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024225
- Births, 2024889
- Deaths, 20241,107
- Natural change, 2024-218
- Net domestic migration, 2024394
- Net international migration, 202452
- Total net migration, 2024446
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,493
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1656th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.50 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Howard County
Where are people moving to Howard County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,049
- People arriving, from those returns3,681
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,945
- Net household movement104
- Adjusted gross income arriving$94.2 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-1.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$45,966
- Average income of a leaving household$49,071
- Largest single originMiami County (216 households)
- Largest single destinationMiami County (155 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami County | 216 | 415 | $9.1 m |
| Hamilton County | 147 | 271 | $8.4 m |
| Tipton County | 140 | 249 | $5.9 m |
| Marion County | 136 | 234 | $5.5 m |
| Cass County | 125 | 210 | $5.5 m |
| Grant County | 85 | 152 | $4.1 m |
| Tippecanoe County | 80 | 137 | $2.7 m |
| Madison County | 56 | 108 | $2.5 m |
Households arriving report $3,105 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Miami County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Howard County
What is the Howard County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$5.50 bn
- County GDP, 2023$5.50 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-0.1 percent
- GDP change over five years30.0 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Indiana areas BEA publishes21st of 92
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes675th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$65,638
Output grew -0.1 percent in the latest year and 30.0 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Howard County
Employment by industry in Howard County
- Covered employment, annual average35,758
- Establishments reporting1,913
- Average annual pay$62,420
- Average weekly wage$1,200
- Manufacturing, employment9,047
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$108,112
- Health care and social assistance, employment5,561
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$55,384
- Retail trade, employment4,408
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,380
- Accommodation and food services, employment4,137
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$19,967
- Construction, employment1,961
- Other services, except public administration, employment1,227
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 9,047 | 84 | $108,112 |
| Health care and social assistance | 5,561 | 217 | $55,384 |
| Retail trade | 4,408 | 334 | $32,380 |
| Accommodation and food services | 4,137 | 210 | $19,967 |
| Construction | 1,961 | 154 | $84,357 |
| Other services, except public administration | 1,227 | 153 | $31,097 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 836 | 104 | $40,499 |
| Finance and insurance | 802 | 135 | $73,279 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 9,047 jobs, 25.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Howard County
How many businesses are in Howard County?
- Establishments, all industries1,813
- Employment at those establishments31,554
- Annual payroll$1.67 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents21.6
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Howard County
Building permits in Howard County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024194
- Declared construction value permitted$55.5 m
- Single family units authorized182
- Multifamily units authorized12
- Multifamily share of units6.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$286,332
- Units authorized per 1,000 households5.5
Single-family homes are 93.8 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Howard County
SBA loans in Howard County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded81
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$48.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$602,821
- Median 7(a) approval$242,200
- 10th percentile approval$30,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,730,000
- Largest single approval$4,604,500
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,036
- Jobs per approval12.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active26
- Distinct industries receiving approvals42
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer32.1 percent
- Loans on real estate terms26
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter48
- Franchise loans12
- Franchise share of approvals14.8 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFitness and Recreational Sports Centers (8)
- Most active lenderCommunity First Bank of Indiana (20)
- 504 approvals recorded21
- 504 gross approval dollars$11.0 m
- Average 504 approval$525,286
- Median 504 approval$464,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval6.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.1
- Most active CDCIndiana Statewide Certified Development Corporation (16)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$59.9 m
The average approval of $602,821 sits well above the median of $242,200, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 32.1 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Howard County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Howard County
Do SBA loans in Howard County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded20
- Paid in full19
- Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full19
- Status: Exempt from disclosure52
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Cancelled6
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed3
Only 20 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Howard County
SBA lending by place in Howard County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Kokomo, approvals73
- Greentown, approvals3
- Russiaville, approvals2
- Lafayette, approvals2
- Sharpsville, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Kokomo | 73 | $40,704,600 |
| Greentown | 3 | $4,676,500 |
| Russiaville | 2 | $3,120,900 |
| Lafayette | 2 | $296,500 |
| Sharpsville | 1 | $30,000 |
Kokomo accounts for 73 approvals against 3 in Greentown. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Howard County
How large is Howard County?
- Land area293 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Indiana counties82nd of 92
- Width, east to west27 mi
- Height, north to south13.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land286
- Establishments per square mile6.19
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Howard County
Flood risk in Howard County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Howard County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 180414
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 8
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Howard County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Howard County (community 180414), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Howard County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 8, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Howard County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Howard County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202483,752
- Households35,593
- Average household size2.35
- Median household income$64,027
- Median age40.7
Common questions
Howard County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Howard County, Indiana?
The Census Bureau estimates 84,082 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 83,752, in 35,593 households, ranking 19th of 92 Indiana counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Howard County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.50 percent since the 2020 census base of 83,660, to 84,082 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 889 births against 1,107 deaths, with net migration of 446. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Howard County?
$64,027. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $165,000, which is 2.6 times income, and median gross rent is $937 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Howard County?
1,813 establishments, employing 31,554 people with an annual payroll of $1.67 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Howard County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 9,047 jobs, 25.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 35,758 jobs at an average annual pay of $62,420, or $1,200 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Howard County?
81 7(a) approvals totaling $48.8 m since FY2020, across 26 lenders, with a median approval of $242,200, plus 21 504 approvals worth $11.0 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Howard County?
194 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $55.5 m. Multifamily was 6.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Howard County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Howard County come from?
The largest single origin is Miami County, with 216 households. Arriving households report an average income of $45,966 against $49,071 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Howard County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Howard County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Howard County
Cities and places in Howard.
9 Census places lie wholly or partly in Howard County. All 9 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kokomo | city | 59,122 | 73 | Wholly in this county |
| Greentown | town | 2,094 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Russiaville | town | 1,445 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Center | CDP | 605 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cassville | CDP | 279 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| New London | CDP | 207 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| West Middleton | CDP | 185 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hemlock | CDP | 132 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Jerome | CDP | 33 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 3 of the county's 81 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Howard County, the largest being Lafayette (2), Sharpsville (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby