Population 138,961 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Kalamazoo: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Kalamazoo
Household size in Kalamazoo
| Period | Kalamazoo | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.44 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.51 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.48 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.46 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.02 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Kalamazoo run small, averaging 2.46 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. That is in line with the rest of Michigan. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Kalamazoo
| Period | Kalamazoo | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.1 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.6 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.1 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 34.8 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.7 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Kalamazoo is young: half of its residents are under 34.8, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 34.1, a smaller shift than nationally. Of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people, only 15 are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Kalamazoo
| Period | Kalamazoo | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.4% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.0% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.9% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.6% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in Kalamazoo (12.6%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.8 points, in line with the national trend. Kalamazoo has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five Michigan cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Kalamazoo
Renters in Kalamazoo
| Period | Kalamazoo | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.4% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 42.8% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 43.9% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 45.0% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Kalamazoo than nationally: 45.0% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among owners, 45.9% have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 2.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only 15 of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Kalamazoo
| Period | Kalamazoo | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Kalamazoo is close to the national rate: 8.8% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.3 points, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Kalamazoo
| Period | Kalamazoo | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1968 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +3 | +6 |
Homes in Kalamazoo run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1974 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1968 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Kalamazoo
| Period | Kalamazoo | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $706 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $790 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $823 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,196 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$491 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Kalamazoo costs $1,196 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $491 a month since 2006–10, up 70%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 33.0% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Kalamazoo
Bachelor's degrees in Kalamazoo
| Period | Kalamazoo | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.4% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 35.4% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.9% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 39.8% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Kalamazoo than nationally: 39.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 4.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the east.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Kalamazoo
| Period | Kalamazoo | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.5% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.1% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.7% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.4% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Kalamazoo have finished high school (92.4%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. Michigan as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma is up 2.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Kalamazoo
| Period | Kalamazoo | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.4 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Kalamazoo than nationally: unemployment was 6.2%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 6.4 points, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Kalamazoo compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo | 2.46 | 34.8 | 12.6% | 45.0% | 8.8% | 1974 | $1,196 | 39.8% | 92.4% | 6.2% |
| Westwood | 1.99 | 38.5 | 9.8% | 44.9% | 8.9% | 1968 | $1,255 | 51.8% | 95.6% | 4.0% |
| Eastwood | 2.45 | 34.8 | 15.8% | 35.6% | 6.3% | 1951 | $1,124 | 20.2% | 91.1% | 6.3% |
| Parchment | 2.23 | 30.2 | 19.0% | 40.2% | 8.2% | 1955 | $1,060 | 24.5% | 96.8% | 7.7% |
| Portage | 2.47 | 40.4 | 8.9% | 30.5% | 5.7% | 1979 | $1,199 | 47.5% | 96.9% | 4.5% |
| Greater Galesburg | 2.15 | 58.1 | 7.9% | 12.8% | 3.8% | 1960 | $1,135 | 20.3% | 92.0% | 0.1% |
| Richland Junction | 2.55 | 43.0 | 5.5% | 6.4% | 4.4% | 1980 | $1,229 | 35.8% | 99.2% | 2.0% |
| Mentha | 2.53 | 53.3 | 1.4% | 2.1% | 3.7% | 1981 | $1,302 | 28.3% | 97.7% | 1.5% |
| Galesburg | 2.61 | 40.3 | 6.3% | 11.0% | 5.5% | 1979 | $949 | 31.3% | 96.6% | 3.8% |
| Mattawan | 2.66 | 40.2 | 8.9% | 10.5% | 4.6% | 1993 | $1,183 | 38.0% | 96.4% | 2.7% |
| Scotts | 2.54 | 45.1 | 12.2% | 5.7% | 4.2% | 1975 | $1,274 | 38.0% | 94.5% | 5.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Ontario, CA · North Hollywood, CA · O'fallon, MO · Noblesville, IN · Norcross, GA · Oviedo, FL · North Charleston, SC · Oklahoma City, OK · Oakland, CA · Ogden, UT
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Kalamazoo. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.