Kokomo receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Jackson
Kokomo
Opportunity
24 · Bottom 3%
vs32 · Bottom 9%
Growth
43 · Bottom 38%
vs55 · Top 42%
Climate
61 · Bottom 32%
vs61 · Bottom 29%
Physical resilience
90 · Top 4%
vs89 · Top 5%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
82 · Top 39%
vs69 · Bottom 37%
Economic stability
53 · Top 46%
vs49 · Bottom 49%
Measured values
| Metric | Jackson | Kokomo | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 160,060 | 83,752 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $66,073 | $64,027 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,930 | $35,963 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 228/sq mi | 286/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $193,700 | $165,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $985 | $937 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 75.0% | 70.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 5.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -6.7% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.4% | 20.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 13.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 352 | 234 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.2 | 2.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 34.4% | 78.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 17°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 32.2" | 44.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 38 mi | 54 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 22.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.5 | 40.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Jackson
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, strong wind.
Kokomo
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake.
Full profiles: Jackson, MI Metro Area · Kokomo, IN Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology