City Comparison
Mishawaka vs Kokomo
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Kokomo scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Mishawaka
Kokomo
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Kokomo is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
7% lower than in Mishawaka.
Housing costs are a major driver: Mishawaka's average rent is
11% higher than Kokomo's.
| Metric | Mishawaka | Kokomo | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,050 | $950 | +11% |
| Groceries | $390 | $380 | +3% |
| Utilities | $175 | $170 | +3% |
| Transport | $115 | $110 | +5% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $220 | +5% |
| Monthly Total | $1,960 | $1,830 | +7% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 84 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Kokomo offers 3% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Kokomo delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Mishawaka is estimated at
$48,000 vs $45,000 in Kokomo.
| Metric | Mishawaka | Kokomo |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $56,000 | $58,000 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $45,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 60,870 idx | 69,048 idx |
| Household Income | $54,291 | $57,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1.7°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Mishawaka sees 18.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Mishawaka | Kokomo |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.90°F | 52.60°F |
| Summer High | 81.60°F | 82.00°F |
| Winter Low | 18.80°F | 19.30°F |
| Rainfall | 37.20 in | 32.40 in |
| Snowfall | 40.90 in | 22.80 in |
| Sunny Days | 240 | 247 |
| Humidity | 70.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Mishawaka scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Mishawaka leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Mishawaka | Kokomo |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 21 min | 20 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Walkability | 53.0/100 | 45.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 41.00 | 35.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Kokomo is the larger city
— approximately 0.9x the population of Mishawaka.
From a growth perspective, Kokomo is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Kokomo has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Mishawaka | Kokomo |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 51,021 | 59,610 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.27% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 39.0 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 4.00% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Mishawaka
Advantages
Median home prices and overall living costs remain significantly more affordable than the national average.
Extensive outdoor recreation is available via the scenic Riverwalk trail system along the St. Joseph River.
Proximity to the University of Notre Dame provides easy access to major collegiate sports, arts, and cultural events.
Strategic Midwestern location offers rapid highway access to Chicago, Indianapolis, and the Michigan border.
Comprehensive local healthcare infrastructure is anchored by the modern Franciscan Health Mishawaka facility.
Drawbacks
Winters feature heavy lake-effect snowfall, requiring active municipal snow removal and winter driving preparedness.
Public transit options are limited outside of main bus routes, resulting in high car dependency for daily commutes.
Local median household income trails state and national benchmarks, constraining broader wage growth.
Poverty rates in select older urban residential pockets slightly exceed national averages.
Retail-heavy corridors like Grape Road experience notable traffic congestion during peak holiday and weekend shopping hours.
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.
Mishawaka
#305Indiana, USA
61.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,050
Avg Salary
$56,000
Cost Index
92
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
53.0/100
Sunny Days
240/yr
Avg Temp
50.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.27%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
75
Business
70
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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