City Comparison
Fishers vs Kokomo
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Fishers scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Fishers
Kokomo
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Kokomo is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
30% lower than in Fishers.
Housing costs are a major driver: Fishers's average rent is
74% higher than Kokomo's.
| Metric | Fishers | Kokomo | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,650 | $950 | +74% |
| Groceries | $420 | $380 | +11% |
| Utilities | $175 | $170 | +3% |
| Transport | $130 | $110 | +18% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $220 | +5% |
| Monthly Total | $2,605 | $1,830 | +42% |
| Cost Index | 108 | 84 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Fishers offers 34% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Fishers delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Fishers is estimated at
$62,000 vs $45,000 in Kokomo.
| Metric | Fishers | Kokomo |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $78,000 | $58,000 |
| Salary Needed | $62,000 | $45,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 72,222 idx | 69,048 idx |
| Household Income | $115,000 | $57,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1°F of each other.
For sunshine, Kokomo comes out ahead with 10 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Kokomo sees 3 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Fishers | Kokomo |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.60°F | 52.60°F |
| Summer High | 83.80°F | 82.00°F |
| Winter Low | 20.50°F | 19.30°F |
| Rainfall | 38.40 in | 32.40 in |
| Snowfall | 19.80 in | 22.80 in |
| Sunny Days | 237 | 247 |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Kokomo has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,500 minutes (58 hours) per year compared to Fishers.
Fishers scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Fishers leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Fishers | Kokomo |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 27 min | 20 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 45.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | 35.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Fishers is the larger city
— approximately 1.8x the population of Kokomo.
From a growth perspective, Fishers is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Fishers has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Fishers | Kokomo |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 104,909 | 59,610 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.50% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 39.0 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 4.00% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Fishers
Advantages
Consistently ranked among the safest cities in Indiana with exceptionally low crime rates per FBI reporting.
Hamilton Southeastern Schools and other local districts are top-rated statewide for academic performance.
Thriving technology and entrepreneurial ecosystem supported by the Indiana IoT Lab and local business incubators.
Extensive parks and recreation infrastructure, including the Nickel Plate Trail and Geist Reservoir access.
Vibrant downtown Nickel Plate District featuring dining, shopping, and regular community events.
Drawbacks
Housing costs and overall cost of living sit noticeably above the Indiana state average.
High degree of car dependency for daily commuting and errands outside of the central district.
Increasing traffic congestion along major thoroughfares during peak morning and evening commute hours.
Property tax rates in Hamilton County reflect high local service funding but add to homeownership costs.
Limited traditional public mass transit options connecting directly to broader regional employment hubs.
Kokomo
Advantages
Median home prices are substantially lower than the national average, per recent Zillow housing data.
Major investments in EV battery manufacturing are driving modern industrial job growth in the region.
An affordable cost of living allows residents to enjoy strong purchasing power on housing and everyday goods.
Abundant local parks, sports complexes, and the Wildcat Creek trail system support an active outdoor lifestyle.
Convenient access via US-31 allows for easy commuting and travel to the greater Indianapolis metropolitan area.
Drawbacks
Public transportation options are limited, making car ownership practically mandatory for daily life.
Local employment remains heavily tied to the automotive and manufacturing sectors, creating cyclical economic exposure.
Extreme winter weather conditions include regular snowfall and freezing temperatures requiring winter preparedness.
Entertainment and nightlife options are limited compared to larger metropolitan hubs.
Average educational attainment rates trail national benchmarks in certain specialized technical fields.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Fishers
#40Indiana, USA
71.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,650
Avg Salary
$78,000
Cost Index
108
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
237/yr
Avg Temp
53.60°F
Pop. Growth
1.50%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
88
Business
80
Kokomo
#216Indiana, USA
63.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
84
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
45.0/100
Sunny Days
247/yr
Avg Temp
52.60°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
4.00%
Livability
73
Business
67
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