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METRO AREA

Kalamazoo Metro

Kalamazoo-Portage, MI · 1 counties · 263,795 residents (2025 est.) · 561.955 sq mi
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The short version

Kalamazoo has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $72,532. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $241,800. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.0
US median: 38.9
More educated
41% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 26%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
262,375
+10%since 2000
from 238,603 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
467 / sq mi
+10%since 2000
from 425 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
35.0
+7%since 2000
from 32.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:263,795 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
219K231K243K255K267K1990201020202024Kalamazoo
2024262K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$72,532
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,022 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$41,530
+91%since 2000
from $21,739 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
48.4%
+20.8 ptssince 2009
from 27.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.473
+2%since 2010
from 0.466 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services6.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade4.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$241,800
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $105,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,093
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $529 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
64.5%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 65.7% in 2000
35.5% rent
Vacancy rate
6.8%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.0%
−8.2 ptssince 2009
from 25.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.0%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 53.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.3
+33%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
69
RELATED:See current rent listings in Kalamazoo on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic83.5%(199,180)
Black9.6%(22,968)
Hispanic / Latino2.6%(6,311)
Asian1.8%(4,343)
Other0%
Diversity Score32.1%(76,702)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic74.6%(195,720)
Black10.8%(28,246)
Hispanic / Latino5.9%(15,483)
Asian2.8%(7,427)
Other5.9%(15,499)
Diversity Score53%(139,120)
Segregation Score32.4%(85,028)
Diversity Score
53
+65%since 2000
from 32 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
32
−5%since 2020
from 34 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
41.3%
+10.1 ptssince 2000
from 31.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.7%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 88.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
16.4%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 12.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.7 min
+65%since 2000
from 12.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.6%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 82.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.3%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.5%
+9.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.5%
−6.0 ptssince 2011
from 11.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 66.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.1%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
43.1%
−23.7 ptssince 2009
from 66.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
Female
51.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
Foreign born
5.8%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.7%
−42.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2012
from 12.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.7%
−84.5 ptssince 2013
from 89.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.6%
+8.3 ptssince 2017
from 82.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2016
from 92.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.0%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 3.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

KalamazooCENTRAL72,683PortageCENTRAL49,862
What's inside

1 component county

Kalamazoo CountyCENTRAL263,795
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Kalamazoo

Duluth
Pop 281,219
Amarillo
Pop 276,235
Evansville
Pop 273,786
Prescott Valley
Pop 252,552
Places similar to Kalamazoo
Head to head

Compare Kalamazoo side by side

KALAMAZOO VS
Duluth
Income$72,227same
Home value$222,025−8%
Population281,219+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KALAMAZOO VS
Amarillo
Income$70,728−2%
Home value$196,651−19%
Population276,235+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KALAMAZOO VS
Evansville
Income$69,981−4%
Home value$201,726−17%
Population273,786+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KALAMAZOO VS
Prescott Valley
Income$69,613−4%
Home value$425,200+76%
Population252,552−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI?

Kalamazoo-Portage, MI has about 262,375 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI?

The typical household in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI earns about $72,532 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Kalamazoo-Portage, MI expensive?

In Kalamazoo-Portage, MI, the median home is worth about $241,800, and the typical rent is about $1,093 a month.

How educated are people in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI?

About 41.3% of adults age 25 and over in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI?

About 12.7% of people in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI live below the federal poverty line.

Has Kalamazoo-Portage, MI grown since 1990?

Yes, Kalamazoo-Portage, MI has grown since 1990. The population has added about 38,964 residents, a change of about 17 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →