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Living in
Kalamazoo.
About
Life in Kalamazoo
If you're considering Kalamazoo, you're looking at an affordable Midwestern city with a solid job market and a median home price around $179,000. The unemployment rate sits at 5.7%, and the local economy is anchored by established companies in aerospace, food service manufacturing, and the biotech/pharmaceutical sector—plus the significant presence of two universities that keep the city from feeling economically one-dimensional. You'll have an 18-minute average commute, which is manageable.
Kalamazoo at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
26.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
24.9%
Foreign-Born
7.2%
Broadband Internet
87.3%
of households
Population Growth
-1.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Kalamazoo: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Kalamazoo, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (19.7%), and 4.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.9%
of residents
65 and Older
11.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.4%
of households
Married Couples
27.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.25
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for MI
Rent, home values, and income in Kalamazoo
In Kalamazoo, home values are 23% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
94.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,958
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
42.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1959
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $238,251 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts above MI average
Unemployment in Kalamazoo
Unemployment in Kalamazoo is 0.5 percentage points higher than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Kalamazoo Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18.5 min avg
How Kalamazoo residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Kalamazoo, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 83% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO)
Regional airport · few flights89k passengers boarded in 2025
- 114 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 229% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Kalamazoo runs 229% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,084
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,947.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Kalamazoo Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 7 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
81.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Kalamazoo County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Kalamazoo County, which includes Kalamazoo, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 7 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $51.5M |
| 2023 | 4 | Hail | $250,000 |
| 2022 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.3M |
| 2021 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
| 2020 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $740,000 |
| 2019 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5.0M |
| 2018 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | $65,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Kalamazoo County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Kalamazoo County, which includes Kalamazoo, is typically good — 224 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
224
per year
Moderate Days
134
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Kalamazoo County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Kalamazoo has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
33.2"
Annual Snowfall
64.6"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
129
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
140
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 18°F | 1.70" |
| Feb | 35°F | 20°F | 1.34" |
| Mar | 46°F | 27°F | 2.01" |
| Apr | 59°F | 38°F | 3.07" |
| May | 70°F | 49°F | 3.70" |
| Jun | 80°F | 58°F | 3.20" |
| Jul | 83°F | 62°F | 3.36" |
| Aug | 81°F | 60°F | 3.66" |
| Sep | 74°F | 53°F | 3.27" |
| Oct | 61°F | 42°F | 3.74" |
| Nov | 48°F | 33°F | 2.50" |
| Dec | 37°F | 24°F | 1.68" |
Healthcare4 hospitals, avg 3.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo has 4 hospitals, averaging 3.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
4
within city limits
Uninsured
6.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.5 / 5
Bronson Methodist Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Borgess Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Kalamazoo Regional Psychiatric Hospital
Psychiatric · ER available
Kalamazoo Behavioral Health Hospital
Psychiatric
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo's student/teacher ratio is 17.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 38.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
30
within city limits
Private Schools
8
within city limits
College Degree Rate
38.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Kalamazoo
Public · 4-year · 12,568 students · in-state tuition $15,954 · 62% graduate · median earnings $57,828 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,149 students · in-state tuition $63,827 · 81% graduate · median earnings $66,766 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Indiana Dunes National Park, 89 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Indiana Dunes National Park (89 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
89 mi awayPublic Libraries in Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo Public Library
315 South Rose Street, Kalamazoo
Alma Powell Branch Library
1000 West Paterson Street, Kalamazoo
Washington Square Branch Library
1244 Portage Street, Kalamazoo
Cities Near Kalamazoo
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Kalamazoo?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Kalamazoo FAQ
Is Kalamazoo, Michigan affordable?⌄
Kalamazoo's median rent is $1,078/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $52,272/year. Median home value is $179,000.
Is Kalamazoo, Michigan safe?⌄
Kalamazoo's violent crime rate was 1084 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2948 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Kalamazoo, Michigan?⌄
Kalamazoo has an unemployment rate of 5.7%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Kalamazoo, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Kalamazoo is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,078/month and median household income is $52,272/year. The median home value is $179,000. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Kalamazoo, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Kalamazoo is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from