Holland vs Kalamazoo
Holland, Michigan versus Kalamazoo, Michigan: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Holland edges out Kalamazoo on overall objective livability (55 vs 47 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Holland | Kalamazoo |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $69k | $49k |
| Cost of Living | $48k | $44k |
| Home Value | $213k | $153k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $974 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.33% | 1.72% |
| Income Tax | 4.30% | 4.30% |
| Sales Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 10.37% | 11.69% |
| Unemployment | 2.3% | 8.1% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 26°F | 25°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 72°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.8 in | 33.2 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 109.0 in | 64.6 in |
| Sunny Days | 214 days | 163 days |
| Summer Humidity | 61°F | 61°F |
| Comfortable Days | 97 days | 95 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 28.4 | 28.7 |
| Air Quality | 48 AQI | 57 AQI |
| School Quality | 68.0 | 62.1 |
| Violent Crime | 2086/100k | 4682/100k |
| Property Crime | 1342/100k | 4516/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 34,186 | 73,342 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 25.9 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.44 | 0.52 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.97 |
| Political Leaning | R+22 | D+19 |
| White (%) | 64.5% | 61.3% |
| Black (%) | 5.4% | 21.4% |
| Hispanic (%) | 23.9% | 7.4% |
| Asian (%) | 3.0% | 2.4% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.1% | 7.5% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 17 min | 18 min |
| Walkability | 8.6/20 | 8.3/20 |
| Airport Distance | 31 mi | 42 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 88.7% | 85.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 52.07 | 40.50 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Holland or Kalamazoo more affordable?
- Kalamazoo has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Holland's $48k and Kalamazoo's $44k. Median rent is $1k in Holland versus $974 in Kalamazoo.
- Is Holland or Kalamazoo safer?
- Holland has the lower violent crime rate. Holland reports 2086/100k and Kalamazoo reports 4682/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Holland or Kalamazoo?
- The median home value is $213k in Holland and $153k in Kalamazoo, so homes are more affordable in Kalamazoo.