Kalamazoo-Portage receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Kalamazoo-Portage
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn
Opportunity
39 · Bottom 17%
vs41 · Bottom 21%
Growth
36 · Bottom 28%
vs34 · Bottom 25%
Climate
62 · Bottom 34%
vs61 · Bottom 29%
Physical resilience
93 · Top 3%
vs86 · Top 8%
Housing affordability
96 · Top 45%
vs95 · Top 48%
Access
96 · Top 13%
vs82 · Top 39%
Economic stability
75 · Top 19%
vs62 · Top 36%
Measured values
| Metric | Kalamazoo-Portage | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 262,375 | 4,376,828 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $72,532 | $76,664 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,530 | $43,384 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 467/sq mi | 1,124/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $241,800 | $249,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,093 | $1,207 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.5% | 71.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 6.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -7.5% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.3% | 34.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 13.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 438 | 8,283 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.7 | 1.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 2.3% | -5.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 17°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 33.2" | 29.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 15 mi | 36 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 28.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.0 | 40.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Kalamazoo-Portage
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado, strong wind.
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Kalamazoo-Portage
71
Your Score
66
Area Score
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn
66
Your Score
63
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Kalamazoo-Portage, MI Metro Area · Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology