Kalamazoo, Michigan Income Statistics
Kalamazoo Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Kalamazoo Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Kalamazoo | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $52,381 | $72,977 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,033 | $59,920 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.3% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.4% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.5% | 9.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Kalamazoo is about 28% lower than in Michigan. Income has been growing faster in Kalamazoo (5.3%/yr) than in Michigan (4.6%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Kalamazoo earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Michigan average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Kalamazoo, Michigan grew by 77.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $52,381 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Kalamazoo
| Metric | Kalamazoo | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.579 | 0.539 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $55,227 | $69,354 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,956 | $54,749 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 11.4% | 21.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Kalamazoo, it is 0.579, higher than Michigan's 0.539, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 13% more than women's income in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Over a 35-year career, a 13% wage gap accumulates to roughly $219,485 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Kalamazoo, Michigan has narrowed from about 18% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 19% in 2010, and was narrowest at 7% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $573 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Kalamazoo | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.9% | 13.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 2,744 people are unemployed in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
The average commute time in Kalamazoo is 16 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Kalamazoo, Michigan has fallen from 15.0% to 6.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 15.1% in 2012.
Kalamazoo, MI Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Kalamazoo, MI compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo, MI | 73,365 | $52,381 #2/2 | 5.3%/yr #1/2 | 6.9% #2/2 | 0.579 #2/2 |
| Portage, MI | 49,224 | $86,377 | 5.1%/yr | 4.3% | 0.504 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Kalamazoo, Michigan has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Michigan, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
How Rich Is Kalamazoo, Michigan?
Kalamazoo has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $52,381, about 28% lower than the Michigan average of $72,977.
Are incomes growing in Kalamazoo, Michigan?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Kalamazoo, Michigan rose 78%, from $29,481 to $52,381. Over the same years, income here outpaced Michigan as a whole: +78% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Kalamazoo in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Kalamazoo, Michigan was $49,265, up 2% from $48,530 in 2022. The Michigan median that year was $71,362.
What was the median household income in Kalamazoo in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Kalamazoo, Michigan was $43,140. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $52,381.
What is the Gini coefficient in Kalamazoo, Michigan?
The Gini coefficient in Kalamazoo is 0.579. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Kalamazoo, Michigan?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Kalamazoo, Michigan has narrowed from about 18% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 19% in 2010, and was narrowest at 7% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $573 since 2009.
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