Signals
Wooster
Kalamazoo-Portage
Growth
40 · Bottom 33%
vs36 · Bottom 28%
Climate
62 · Bottom 33%
vs62 · Bottom 34%
Physical resilience
86 · Top 8%
vs93 · Top 3%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 29%
vs96 · Top 45%
Access
91 · Top 22%
vs96 · Top 13%
Economic stability
78 · Top 16%
vs75 · Top 19%
Measured values
| Metric | Wooster | Kalamazoo-Portage | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 116,588 | 262,375 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $73,574 | $72,532 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,229 | $41,530 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 210/sq mi | 467/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $222,100 | $241,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $881 | $1,093 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 76.6% | 64.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.1% | 41.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.4% | 12.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 230 | 438 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.0 | 1.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 1.8% | 2.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 36.9" | 33.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 24 mi | 15 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 22.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.9 | 35.0 | 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
Wooster
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Kalamazoo-Portage
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado, strong wind.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Wooster
76
Your Score
—
Area Score
Kalamazoo-Portage
71
Your Score
66
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Wooster, OH Micro Area · Kalamazoo-Portage, MI Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology