Kokomo receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Kokomo
Muskegon-Norton Shores
Opportunity
32 · Bottom 9%
vs20 · Bottom 2%
Growth
55 · Top 42%
vs31 · Bottom 21%
Climate
61 · Bottom 29%
vs64 · Bottom 42%
Physical resilience
89 · Top 5%
vs98 · Top 1%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs97 · Top 40%
Access
69 · Bottom 37%
vs63 · Bottom 26%
Economic stability
49 · Bottom 49%
vs49 · Bottom 48%
Measured values
| Metric | Kokomo | Muskegon-Norton Shores | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 83,752 | 175,961 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $64,027 | $65,024 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,963 | $32,532 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 286/sq mi | 349/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $165,000 | $198,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $937 | $1,028 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 70.6% | 78.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 5.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -7.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 21.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.4% | 14.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 234 | 338 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.8 | 1.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 78.6% | -26.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 17°F | 21°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.4" | 35.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 54 mi | 59 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 23.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.7 | 40.0 | 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
Kokomo
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake.
Muskegon-Norton Shores
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Kokomo
65
Your Score
64
Area Score
Muskegon-Norton Shores
60
Your Score
59
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Kokomo, IN Metro Area · Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology