Kalamazoo, MI

Census place 2642160 · pop 73,076

D−37/ 100
🫤 Rough
F
in MI
📍 Michigan ranks #42 of 50 states →
🏆 Bad air0 days · top 15%
🚽 Mental23.0% · bottom 1%
💡 Did you know?

The 'Kalamazoo' of song and saying, it gave rise to Gibson guitars and offers free college tuition via the Kalamazoo Promise.

Source ↗
Taxes
1.65% property · US 0.99%6.00% sales · US 7.00%4.25% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Poor mental health23.0%1

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

23.0% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Violent crime rate1221/100k2

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

1221 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Homeownership42.3%6

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

42.3% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Poverty rate24.9%9

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

24.9% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Property crime rate3342/100k9

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

3342 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Adult obesity41.8%11

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

41.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Population growth (5yr)-3.9%11

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-3.9% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Median household income$52,27216

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$52,272 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Income inequality0.4817

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.48 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Property-tax burden1.65%20

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.65% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Adult smoking16.7%21

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

16.7% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Broadband access87.3%22

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

87.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.4%24

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Physical inactivity28.5%32

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

28.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Air quality (AQI)County-level45 AQI39

U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities

45 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Uninsured adults9.6%49

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

9.6% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level81/10063

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

81/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Bachelor's degree or higher38.5%66

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

38.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Housing cost$179,00077

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$179,000 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Rent$1,269/mo84

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,269/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Commute time19 min84

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

19 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Frequently asked

Is Kalamazoo, MI a good place to live?
By the numbers, Kalamazoo scores 37/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is unhealthy air days and its weakest is poor mental health. Michigan overall ranks #42 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Kalamazoo, MI?
Kalamazoo reports 1221 violent crimes per 100k and 3342 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Kalamazoo, MI expensive to live in?
Kalamazoo has a median home value of $179,000 and typical rent around $1,269/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Kalamazoo, MI?
Its weakest measured area is poor mental health (23.0%) — 1/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Kalamazoo, MI best at?
Its strongest measured area is unhealthy air days (0 days) — 85/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: The 'Kalamazoo' of song and saying, it gave rise to Gibson guitars and offers free college tuition via the Kalamazoo Promise.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.