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Moving Guides/Kalamazoo-Portage

Moving to Kalamazoo-Portage

What you need to know before relocating to Kalamazoo-Portage, Michigan. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.

Is Kalamazoo-Portage a Good Place to Live?

Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Kalamazoo-Portage compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($1,058/mo) is below the national average; home prices ($251,200) are well below the us median; high school graduation rate of 92%.

Kalamazoo-Portage at a Glance

Population
262K
Median Income
$67,191
Median Rent
$1,058/mo
Median Home Price
$251,200
Unemployment
3.6%
Avg Commute
117564 min

Cost of Living in Kalamazoo-Portage

The median rent in Kalamazoo-Portage is $1,058/month, while the median home value is $251,200. With a median household income of $67,191, residents spend roughly 19% of monthly income on rent.

Overall, the Kalamazoo-Portage metro area is classified as average compared to other US metros.

Rent vs. National Avg
24% below
Home Price vs. National Avg
18% below

Job Market

Kalamazoo-Portage has a median household income of $67,191, which is 10% below the national median. The local unemployment rate is 3.6%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.

Safety in Kalamazoo-Portage

The violent crime rate in Kalamazoo-Portage is 457 per 100,000 residents, which is 20% above the national average of 380.

Property crime rate: 1547 per 100,000 residents.

Education in Michigan

Michigan has a high school graduation rate of 92% and per-pupil spending of $16,208/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1.

35% of Michigan adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Healthcare Access

Michigan has 292 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 6.2% uninsured rate, and 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Michigan is 76.9 years.

Pros and Cons of Living in Kalamazoo-Portage

+Pros

  • Rent ($1,058/mo) is below the national average
  • Home prices ($251,200) are well below the US median
  • High school graduation rate of 92%
  • Low uninsured rate (6.2%) and good healthcare access

-Cons

  • Longer-than-average commute (117564 min)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kalamazoo-Portage a good place to live?

Kalamazoo-Portage, Michigan has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($1,058/mo) is below the national average and home prices ($251,200) are well below the us median. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.

What is the cost of living in Kalamazoo-Portage?

The median rent in Kalamazoo-Portage is $1,058/month and the median home value is $251,200. The median household income is $67,191. Overall the metro is considered average.

Is Kalamazoo-Portage safe?

Kalamazoo-Portage has a violent crime rate of 457 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

What is the job market like in Kalamazoo-Portage?

Kalamazoo-Portage has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $67,191.

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