City · Michigan
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kalamazoo, city, in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Kalamazoo had 72,683 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 73,598 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 73,076 (±45). GEOID 2642160.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
72,683
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 73,598 · ACS 2020-2024: 73,076 ±45
Median household income
$52,272
±$2,904 (90% margin)
Michigan: $72,875
Median home value
$179,000
±$9,956 (90% margin)
Michigan: $231,600
Median gross rent
$1,078
±$44 (90% margin)
Michigan: $1,129
Where is Kalamazoo and what county is it in?
Kalamazoo is a city in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. It covers 24.6 square miles of land, 2,987 residents per square mile in 2020.
Kalamazoo is in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Kalamazoo, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 72,683 people lived in Kalamazoo on July 1, 2025, down 1.2% since 2020, while Michigan grew 0.5%. The 2020 Census counted 73,598 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 73,076 (±45).
| Measure | Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 73,076 ±45 | 262,375 | −2,943 |
| Households | 29,523 ±732 | 107,110 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.25 ±0.06 | 2.38 | −0.13 |
| Housing units | 32,379 ±736 | 114,908 | no clear change |
Kalamazoo's population since 2000
From 77,145 in 2000 to 72,683 in 2025: down 5.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Kalamazoo as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Kalamazoo?
The median resident of Kalamazoo is 26.9 years old; 18.9% are under 18 and 11.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 60.0%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 22.3%. 7.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 26.9 ±1.1 | 35.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.9% ±1.0 pts | 21.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 11.0% ±0.9 pts | 16.1% | – |
| Male | 48.4% ±1.4 pts | 49.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.8% ±1.0 pts | 5.9% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 60.0% ±1.9 pts | 74.6% | −3.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 22.3% ±1.6 pts | 10.8% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.0% ±0.7 pts | 2.8% | +1.0 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.3% ±1.3 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.2% ±0.9 pts | 5.8% | +1.5 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 10.5% ±1.3 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.0% ±0.7 pts | 5.7% | – |
| With a disability | 13.6% ±1.3 pts | 11.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.1% ±0.8 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.1% ±1.1 pts | 94.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 38.5% ±1.9 pts | 41.3% | +4.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 15.6% ±1.1 pts | 16.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 75.9% ±2.2 pts | 85.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.2% ±0.5 pts | 1.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Kalamazoo earn?
Half of Kalamazoo's 29,523 households earn less than $52,272 a year (±$2,904), against $72,532 in Kalamazoo County and $72,875 in Michigan. In 2015-2019 it was $51,411 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 24.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $52,272 ±$2,904 | $72,532 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $70,572 ±$2,928 | $100,193 | – |
| Per capita income | $29,341 ±$1,214 | $41,530 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 24.9% ±2.2 pts | 12.7% | −3.5 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 22.2% ±3.4 pts | 11.5% | −8.2 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 18.4% ±2.1 pts | 11.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.5% ±1.0 pts | 95.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.3% ±1.8 pts | 90.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Kalamazoo?
Owners occupy 42.3% of Kalamazoo's occupied homes and renters 57.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $179,000 by its owner (±$9,956). The median renter pays $1,078 a month including utilities, and 49.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $179,000 ±$9,956 | $241,800 | +$47,808 |
| Median gross rent | $1,078 ±$44 | $1,093 | +$100 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 49.3% ±4.0 pts | 44.3% | +6.2 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,298 ±$61 | $1,616 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 42.3% ±2.0 pts | 64.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 57.7% ±2.0 pts | 35.5% | – |
| Housing units | 32,379 ±736 | 114,908 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.9% ±0.6 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.2% ±1.4 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 50.5% ±2.3 pts | 64.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.5% ±0.4 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6% ±0.3 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.0% ±1.3 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 29.8% ±2.1 pts | 14.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 12.7% ±1.9 pts | 7.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Kalamazoo building?
Builders took permits for 3 new housing units in Kalamazoo in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 2.3 across Michigan.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Kalamazoo work and get to work?
73.2% of Kalamazoo's workers drive alone and 9.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 18.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.9%.
| Measure | Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.2% ±1.7 pts | 65.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.9% ±1.5 pts | 5.5% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 73.2% ±1.8 pts | 76.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.5% ±1.0 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.3% ±0.7 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Walked | 7.3% ±1.3 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.8% ±1.1 pts | 12.5% | +6.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 18.5 min ±0.9 | 20.7 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Kalamazoo?
24 census tracts lie mostly in Kalamazoo, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $13,882 (Tract 15.04) to $131,167 (Tract 12).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 15.09Kalamazoo County | 5,828 | $47,310 |
| Tract 15.04Kalamazoo County | 4,594 | $13,882 |
| Tract 5Kalamazoo County | 4,590 | $30,750 |
| Tract 18.02Kalamazoo County | 4,359 | $68,800 |
| Tract 6.01Kalamazoo County | 4,151 | $48,151 |
| Tract 10.02Kalamazoo County | 3,992 | $45,542 |
| Tract 15.10Kalamazoo County | 3,925 | $28,359 |
| Tract 17.02Kalamazoo County | 3,919 | $58,990 |
| Tract 18.01Kalamazoo County | 3,881 | $57,566 |
| Tract 15.08Kalamazoo County | 3,829 | $60,588 |
| Tract 3Kalamazoo County | 3,365 | $34,732 |
| Tract 17.01Kalamazoo County | 3,269 | $51,563 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Kalamazoo) · Census block assignment files
How does Kalamazoo compare with other places in Michigan?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Kalamazoo is the 532nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 16th-most populous of 533 in Michigan.
Kalamazoo ranks 1,199th of 1,354 places in Michigan with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 16th | 533 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 970th | 1,281 |
| Residents per square mile | 68th | 1,356 |
| Median household income | 1,199th | 1,354 |
| Per capita income | 1,120th | 1,355 |
| Median home value | 849th | 1,354 |
| Median gross rent | 423rd | 1,212 |
| Poverty rate | 71st | 1,213 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 223rd | 1,350 |
| Median age | 1,342nd | 1,356 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,344th | 1,356 |
| Work from home | 597th | 1,062 |
| Travel time to work | 1,210th | 1,356 |
Kalamazoo's figures with every place in Michigan (CSV)
Every place in Michigan, sortable · Compare Kalamazoo with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Kalamazoo?
2 of the 57 figures for Kalamazoo on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Kalamazoo are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Kalamazoo.