Kokomo receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Muskegon-Norton Shores
Kokomo
Opportunity
20 · Bottom 2%
vs32 · Bottom 9%
Growth
31 · Bottom 21%
vs55 · Top 42%
Climate
64 · Bottom 42%
vs61 · Bottom 29%
Physical resilience
98 · Top 1%
vs89 · Top 5%
Housing affordability
97 · Top 40%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
63 · Bottom 26%
vs69 · Bottom 37%
Economic stability
49 · Bottom 48%
vs49 · Bottom 49%
Measured values
| Metric | Muskegon-Norton Shores | Kokomo | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 175,961 | 83,752 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $65,024 | $64,027 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,532 | $35,963 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 349/sq mi | 286/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $198,300 | $165,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,028 | $937 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 78.1% | 70.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 5.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -7.9% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.3% | 20.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.1% | 13.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 338 | 234 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 2.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -26.4% | 78.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 21°F | 17°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 35.1" | 44.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 59 mi | 54 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.3 min | 22.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.0 | 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
Muskegon-Norton Shores
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind.
Kokomo
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Muskegon-Norton Shores
60
Your Score
59
Area Score
Kokomo
65
Your Score
64
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI Metro Area · Kokomo, IN Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology