Kalamazoo, Michigan
Among the top 6% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B, better than 50% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade D, better than 20% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade D, better than 11% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A, better than 94% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 39% of US places
- top 6% for commute time
- top 9% for natural disaster risk
- bottom 1% for violent crime
Kalamazoo is a mid-size city in Michigan with about 73,000 residents. It grades A for getting around and D for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include commute time, natural disaster risk, and sales tax. It rates lower on property crime and violent crime.
Official websitekalamazoocity.org (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Heavy snow
freez.
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68%25%clearovercast
Precipitation 3.4 in1.6 in
humid 89%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$49k26th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$44kbetter than 72% of US places
Home Value$153k46th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$974better than 43% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 60% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.72%better than 17% of US places
Income Tax4.30%better than 69% of US places
Sales Tax6.00%better than 86% of US places
Estimated total tax burden11.69%better than 31% of US places
Unemployment8.1%better than 20% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)25°F22nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)73°F27th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation33.2 in28th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall64.6 inbetter than 8% of US places
Sunny Days163 daysbetter than 3% of US places
Summer Humidity61°Fbetter than 68% of US places
Comfortable Days95 daysbetter than 79% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk28.7better than 91% of US places
Air Quality57 AQIbetter than 2% of US places
School Quality62.1better than 56% of US places
Violent Crime4682/100kbetter than 1% of US places
Property Crime4516/100kbetter than 1% of US places
Community
Population73,34298th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age25.94th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.5286th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9748th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+1915th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)61.3%24th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)21.4%90th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)7.4%66th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)2.4%83rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)7.5%83rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time18 minbetter than 94% of US places
Walkability8.3/20better than 77% of US places
Airport Distance42 mibetter than 73% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access85.3%better than 47% of US places
Amenities Nearby40.50better than 35% of US places
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 55% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Kalamazoo an affordable place to live?
- Kalamazoo is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $44k, better than 72% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Kalamazoo?
- The median home value in Kalamazoo is $153k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Kalamazoo?
- Median household income in Kalamazoo is $49k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Kalamazoo?
- Median gross rent in Kalamazoo is $974 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Kalamazoo safe?
- Kalamazoo is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 4682/100k (better than 0%). Property crime is 4516/100k.
- What is the weather like in Kalamazoo?
- Kalamazoo averages 73°F in July and 25°F in January, with 33.2 in of annual precipitation and about 163 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Kalamazoo?
- Public-school quality in Kalamazoo is about average, scoring better than 56% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Kalamazoo?
- The average one-way commute in Kalamazoo is 18 min.
Other places in Kalamazoo County
Places near Kalamazoo
Compare Kalamazoo
Explore Michigan
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- 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)