Kalkaska County, Michigan
Among the top 21% of US counties for affordability.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B+, better than 79% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade F, better than 6% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 34% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade F, better than 9% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B, better than 54% of US counties
- top 16% for sales tax
- top 19% for park & nature access
- bottom 1% for annual snowfall
Kalkaska County is a county in Michigan with about 18,000 residents. It grades B+ for affordability and F for weather. Standout strengths include sales tax, park & nature access, and summer humidity. It rates lower on violent crime and annual snowfall.
Official websitekalkaskacounty.net (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Heavy snow
freezing
v.cold
cold
comf.
warm
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cool
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65%24%clearovercast
Precipitation 3.5 in2.0 in
dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$56k37th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$44kbetter than 61% of US counties
Home Value$153k46th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$791better than 56% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 67% of US counties
Property Tax Rate0.97%better than 41% of US counties
Income Tax4.30%better than 71% of US counties
Sales Tax6.00%better than 84% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden8.92%better than 63% of US counties
Unemployment4.6%better than 53% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)20°F13th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)68°F7th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation34.6 in32nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall130.8 inbetter than 1% of US counties
Sunny Days189 daysbetter than 10% of US counties
Summer Humidity59°Fbetter than 80% of US counties
Comfortable Days79 daysbetter than 49% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk21.3better than 77% of US counties
School Quality53.1better than 47% of US counties
Violent Crime2412/100kbetter than 3% of US counties
Property Crime1226/100kbetter than 36% of US counties
Community
Population17,93438th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age43.367th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.1218th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0473rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+4254th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)92.4%81st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)0.9%35th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)2.6%26th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)0.6%50th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)3.5%53rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time29 minbetter than 21% of US counties
Walkability5.0/20better than 19% of US counties
Airport Distance127 mibetter than 34% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access83.3%better than 50% of US counties
Amenities Nearby0.56better than 30% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 81% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is Kalkaska County an affordable place to live?
- Kalkaska County is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $44k, better than 61% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Kalkaska County?
- The median home value in Kalkaska County is $153k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Kalkaska County?
- Median household income in Kalkaska County is $56k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Kalkaska County?
- Median gross rent in Kalkaska County is $791 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Kalkaska County safe?
- Kalkaska County is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 2412/100k (better than 3%). Property crime is 1226/100k.
- What is the weather like in Kalkaska County?
- Kalkaska County averages 68°F in July and 20°F in January, with 34.6 in of annual precipitation and about 189 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Kalkaska County?
- Public-school quality in Kalkaska County is about average, scoring better than 47% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Kalkaska County?
- The average one-way commute in Kalkaska County is 29 min.
Other counties in Michigan
Explore Michigan
Data sources
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)