Residential comparison · 13 facts
Kalamazoo, MI vs Southfield, MI
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Kalamazoo needs about $88,500 in Southfield to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Southfield, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $81,500 in Kalamazoo.
A few differences
- Southfield is higher on median household income ($68,166 vs $52,272).
- Kalamazoo is lower on cost of living index (81 vs 88).
- Kalamazoo is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,104/mo vs $1,386/mo).
Kalamazoo vs Southfield · facet by facet
| Facet | Kalamazoo, MI | Southfield, MI |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $179,000 | $236,200 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,104/mo | $1,386/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.35% | 1.35% |
| State & local income tax | 5.25% | 5.25% |
| Sales tax | 6% | 6% |
| Cost of living index | 81 | 88 |
| Groceries index | 95 | 95 |
| Utilities | $175/mo | $175/mo |
| Median household income | $52,272 | $68,166 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.1% |
| Crime index | 45/100 | 45/100 |
| School rating | 5.3/10 | 5.3/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 175 days | 175 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Kalamazoo, MI · Southfield, MI
Questions & answers
- Is Kalamazoo cheaper than Southfield?
- Kalamazoo has the lower day-to-day cost index (81 vs 88 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Southfield equals $85,000 in Kalamazoo?
- A household earning $85,000 in Kalamazoo needs about $88,500 in Southfield to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Southfield lifestyle costs about $81,500 in Kalamazoo.