Howard County, Indiana Income Statistics
Howard County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
C
Howard County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Howard County | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $64,338 | $71,967 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,602 | $55,757 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.3% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.6% | 10.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.9% | 8.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Howard County is about 11% lower than in Indiana. Income has been growing slower in Howard County (4.3%/yr) than in Indiana (4.5%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Howard County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Indiana average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Howard County, Indiana grew by 37.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $64,338 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Howard County
| Metric | Howard County | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.522 | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $66,547 | $65,086 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,405 | $51,220 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 27.3% | 21.3% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Howard County, it is 0.522, lower than Indiana's 0.534, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 37% more than women's income in Howard County, Indiana. Over a 35-year career, a 37% wage gap accumulates to roughly $634,970 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Howard County, Indiana has narrowed from about 33% to 27% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 35% in 2010, and was narrowest at 24% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $746 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Howard County | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.0% | 10.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 2,284 people are unemployed in Howard County, Indiana.
The average commute time in Howard County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Indiana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Howard County, Indiana has fallen from 11.2% to 5.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.8% in 2012 and fell as low as 5.1% in 2019.
Howard County, IN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Howard County, IN is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 83,752 residents against a local median of 35,712. Howard County, IN's unemployment, at 5.8%, runs 110% above the 2.8% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 4.3% on unemployment, so Howard County, IN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Howard County, IN has the 5th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County, IN | 83,752 | $64,338 #4/6 | 4.3%/yr #2/6 | 5.8% #5/6 | 0.522 #5/6 |
| Tipton County, IN | 15,346 | $76,091 | 4.4%/yr | 2.3% | 0.504 |
| Miami County, IN | 35,712 | $61,107 | 3.8%/yr | 6.6% | 0.551 |
| Cass County, IN | 37,680 | $56,927 | 3.3%/yr | 4.6% | 0.503 |
| Clinton County, IN | 32,944 | $65,223 | 3.4%/yr | 2.6% | 0.494 |
| Hamilton County, IN | 365,056 | $121,444 | 4.1%/yr | 2.8% | 0.517 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Howard County, Indiana has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Indiana, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Howard County, Indiana.
How Rich Is Howard County, Indiana?
Howard County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $64,338, about 11% lower than the Indiana average of $71,967.
Are incomes growing in Howard County, Indiana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Howard County, Indiana rose 38%, from $46,672 to $64,338. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Indiana as a whole: +38% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Howard County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Howard County, Indiana was $63,866, up 3% from $61,959 in 2022. The Indiana median that year was $70,115.
What was the median household income in Howard County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Howard County, Indiana was $56,099. By 2024 it had risen 15% to $64,338.
Is it hard to find a job in Howard County, Indiana?
Unemployment in Howard County, Indiana is 5.8%, well above the Indiana rate of 4.3%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Howard County, Indiana?
The Gini coefficient in Howard County is 0.522. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Howard County, Indiana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Howard County, Indiana has narrowed from about 33% to 27% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 35% in 2010, and was narrowest at 24% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $746 since 2009.
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