Kalamazoo Michigan Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Kalamazoo, MI (the Kalamazoo-Portage metro area) was $824 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Kalamazoo was $831 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Kalamazoo median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Kalamazoo rental vacancy rates, Kalamazoo rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Kalamazoo.
Real Gross Rent in Kalamazoo Michigan (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Michigan Median Gross Rent | $888 | +1.25% | +3.62% |
| Kalamazoo, MI Median Gross Rent | $824 | +1.35% | +5.51% |
Kalamazoo, MI Real Gross Rent Trends
At $824, real median gross rent in Kalamazoo was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Kalamazoo peaked in real terms in 2016 at $857 and is now $26 (3.03%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Kalamazoo: Kalamazoo MI Median, Kalamazoo MI Average, Michigan Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Kalamazoo
| Date | US Median |
Michigan Median |
Kalamazoo, MI Median |
Kalamazoo, MI Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $888 | $824 | $831 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $877 | $813 | $835 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $861 | $794 | $819 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $857 | $781 | $857 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $852 | $760 | $770 |
| 2014 | $986 | $832 | $751 | $777 |
| 2013 | $953 | $809 | $735 | $770 |
| 2012 | $940 | $796 | $715 | $717 |
| 2011 | $941 | $798 | $736 | $731 |
| 2010 | $955 | $816 | $763 | $783 |
| 2009 | $960 | $816 | $736 | $751 |
| 2007 | $927 | $802 | $738 | $744 |
| 2005 | $910 | $819 | $765 | $820 |
Kalamazoo Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Kalamazoo Michigan was 6.14% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Kalamazoo Michigan
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Michigan | 5.56% | +0.74% | +0.15% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 6.14% | +3.27% | +0.01% |
Trends in Kalamazoo, MI Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Kalamazoo peaked in 2006 at 9.49%. Since then it has fallen by 3.35% to 6.14%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2018 post peak low of 2.87%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 3.27%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Kalamazoo MI, Michigan, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Kalamazoo
| Date | US | Michigan | Kalamazoo, MI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 5.56% | 6.14% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 4.82% | 2.87% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 4.87% | 3.47% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.41% | 6.13% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.19% | 4.96% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 5.88% | 5.12% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 6.04% | 3.83% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.73% | 5.32% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 7.72% | 6.76% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 9.60% | 8.08% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 9.48% | 6.24% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 9.66% | 9.21% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 10.09% | 8.42% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Kalamazoo, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Kalamazoo, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.52% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Kalamazoo Michigan Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Michigan | 17.88% | -0.34% | -0.82% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 17.52% | +0.40% | +0.32% |
Trends in Kalamazoo, MI Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Kalamazoo household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2009 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 18.87%. Since then it has fallen by 1.35% to 17.52%. From a 2017 low of 16.76%, the fraction of income going to rent has increased by 0.76%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Kalamazoo MI, Michigan, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Kalamazoo Michigan
| Date | US | Michigan | Kalamazoo, MI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.88% | 17.52% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.22% | 17.12% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.25% | 16.76% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.70% | 17.20% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.86% | 16.79% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 18.97% | 18.66% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.09% | 18.33% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.16% | 18.19% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.29% | 18.32% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.29% | 18.78% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.99% | 18.87% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.09% | 17.11% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.07% | 17.16% |
Renter Fraction in Kalamazoo Michigan
You can calculate the renter fraction in Kalamazoo in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Kalamazoo as a fraction of total Kalamazoo households. In 2019 38.38% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Kalamazoo Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Michigan | 28.43% | -0.38% | -1.25% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 38.38% | +5.82% | +5.87% |
Trends in the Kalamazoo, MI Renter Fraction
At 38.38%, the 2019 household based renter fraction in Kalamazoo was at its highest level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Kalamazoo MI, Michigan, US
History of Kalamazoo Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Michigan | Kalamazoo, MI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 28.43% | 38.38% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 28.81% | 32.56% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 28.67% | 32.71% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 29.68% | 32.51% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 29.58% | 32.91% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 29.76% | 35.32% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 29.45% | 33.29% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 28.94% | 32.66% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 28.26% | 31.44% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 27.25% | 32.02% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 26.81% | 33.11% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 25.17% | 30.75% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 25.33% | 31.92% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
