The Town FilesKalamazoo, Michigan
City in Kalamazoo County · population 73,598 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $179,000
- Household income
- $52,272
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 74 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 26.9
Kalamazoo is a city of 73,598 people in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. The median home is worth $179,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 98% of Michigan towns, hipper than 98% of Michigan towns.
How Kalamazoo ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Kalamazoo is worth $179,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $52,272, which is more affordable than 22% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,078 a month. 42.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kalamazoo | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $179,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,078 | $955 |
| Median household income | $52,272 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 42.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Kalamazoo
| People | Kalamazoo | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 26.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.2% | — |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 18.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Kalamazoo
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 18.1°F. About 33.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 73.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kalamazoo since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 2, 1977 about 2.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 120 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on March 27, 1991.
Severe weather in Kalamazoo County since 1996
Kalamazoo County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 23, 2003 | Other | EM-3189: Power Outage |
Jobs and pay in Kalamazoo County
Kalamazoo County had 120,708 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,730 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Kalamazoo itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Public schools in Kalamazoo
30 public schools with 9,773 students, about 17.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loy Norrix High School | 9-12 | 1,767 | 21.3 |
| Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts | 6-8 | 877 | 18.7 |
| Milwood Magnet School | 6-8 | 703 | 20.1 |
| Comstock Elementary School | K-5 | 621 | 15.5 |
| Woods Lake ElementaryA Magnet Center For The Arts | PK-5 | 512 | 21.3 |
| Winchell Elementary School | PK-5 | 491 | 18.9 |
| ParkwoodUpjohn Elementary School | PK-5 | 463 | 15.4 |
| Milwood Elementary School | PK-5 | 382 | 17.4 |
| Paramount Charter Academy (charter) | PK-8 | 370 | 23.1 |
| Comstock High School | 9-12 | 367 | 18.4 |
| El Sol Elementary | K-5 | 358 | 17.0 |
| Edison Academy | PK-5 | 339 | 13.6 |
Towns near Kalamazoo
- Westwood, MI2.8 mi · 9,621 people · home $193,400
- Eastwood, MI2.9 mi · 6,366 people · home $160,600
- Kalamazoo, MI3.1 mi · 22,777 people · home $180,200
- Comstock Northwest, MI4.8 mi · 5,562 people · home $261,100
- Portage, MI5.4 mi · 48,891 people · home $262,300
- Oshtemo, MI6.0 mi · 23,747 people · home $307,700
- Comstock, MI6.1 mi · 15,231 people · home $241,500
- Cooper, MI7.2 mi · 10,418 people · home $236,900
Kalamazoo questions
Is Kalamazoo, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kalamazoo scores better for retirees than 3% of Michigan towns and quieter than 1%. 11.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 26.9).
How much does a house cost in Kalamazoo?
The median owner-occupied home in Kalamazoo is valued at $179,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,272, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,078 a month.
What is the weather like in Kalamazoo?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 18.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.2 inches of precipitation a year and 73.5 inches of snow.
Does Kalamazoo get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kalamazoo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 2, 1977. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)