Kalamazoo County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Kalamazoo County is located in Michigan with a total population of 261,437. It is the 9th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kalamazoo County is 34.9 years. This is 13% lower than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Kalamazoo County is $70,525. This is about average than the state median of $71,149. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 10% lower. The poverty rate stands at 13.3%. This is 2% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.1%. The unemployment rate is 5.6%. This is 3% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $227,500. Housing costs are 5% higher than the state median of $217,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 63.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% lower than the state average of 72.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Kalamazoo County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 10.6%.

Education

40.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Kalamazoo County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 29% higher than the state rate of 31.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.3%. Notably, 16.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.