10 Best Independent Living Communities in Kalamazoo, MI

 

Learn More About Independent Living in Kalamazoo, MI

 

Independent living communities in Kalamazoo, Michigan are housing arrangements designed exclusively for older adults. While residents live independently, most communities offer amenities, activities, and other services. When it comes to independent living, Kalamazoo is an excellent choice for you or your loved one.

Cost of Independent Living in Kalamazoo, MI

The median monthly cost for an independent living community in Kalamazoo, Michigan is $1,198 for the city proper and $4,728 for the metropolitan area.

 

Learn More About Kalamazoo, MI

 

Cost of Living

 

The cost of living in Kalamazoo is rated well below the national average. This is reflected in its cost-of-living index, which is rated almost 20 points lower than that of the national average. All index scores are based on a sliding scale with the national average set at 100.

Cost-of-living index	Grocery index	Median rent	Rent burden	Median home value	Median family income	Estate tax
83	91	$823	16.8% spend over 30% of their income on rent	$98,503	$37,438	None

 

 

Local Hospitals

 

The top hospitals in Kalamazoo include:

• Ascension Borgess Hospital – This hospital offers 24/7 emergency services and level II trauma care. They also have a comprehensive stroke center and offer speciality heart and cancer care.
• Bronson Methodist Hospital – This 24/7 speciality care hospital offers advanced critical, neurological, and cardiac care.
• Kalamazoo Regional Psychiatric Hospital – The largest mental health institution in Michigan.

 

 

Weather and Climate

 

According to the Koppen Climate Classification index, Kalamazoo has a hot-summer/ warm-summer humid continental type of climate. This means that the city experiences four distinct seasons with the winters tending to be cold and snowy. The summers fluctuate between hot-summer and warm-summer designations which means that they can range from either pleasant and mild to hot and humid. On average, the humidity level for Kalamazoo is roughly 56%. The average humidity levels are highest during the month of December at about 63%.

Seasonal Temperatures

Average summer temp	Typical summer high	Typical summer low	Average winter temp	Typical winter high	Typical winter low
71°F	84°F (July)	58°F (July)	28°F	38°F (December)	18°F (January)

 

Air Quality

Average air quality index rating	Average maximum air quality index rating
41 (Good)	62 in the month of December (Moderate)

Moderate conditions mean that those who are sensitive to particulates in the air should consider limiting the amount of time they spend on outdoor exertion.

Precipitation

Average monthly precipitation	Average maximum monthly precipitation	Average yearly snowfall
3”	4” (October)	60”

 

 

Demographics and Values

 

Although Kalamazoo tends to lean liberal, there is still a sizable conservative population in the city.

2016 Presidential Election for Kalamazoo County

Voted Democratic	Voted Republican	Voted Third Party
53.2%	40.4%	6.4%

 

Population Statistics

Population metro area	Population city proper	Population density	Population trend
214,083	75,807	1,186 people per square mile	Growing at a rate of 0.97%

 

Age

Median	55+	60+	70+	80+
26	19%	8%	3%	3%

 

Highest Level of Education

High-school diploma	College degree	Graduate degree
21%	34%	15%

 

Race & Ethnicity

Asian	Black	Hispanic	Native American	Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian	White	Two or more
2.2%	21.3%	6.8%	0.2%	<1%	64.2%	6.5%

 

Crime

Total crimes	Property crimes per 1,000 citizens	Violent crimes per 1,000 citizens
4,295	44	12

 

Miscellaneous

Unemployed	Participate in the labor force	Have some form of disability	Live in poverty	Widows	Veterans
9%	65%	14%	31%	4%	5%

 

Kalamazoo is considered friendly to members of the LGBTQ+ community. This means that members of the community can participate in public life without fear of bigotry or discrimination.

Arts, Culture, Entertainment, and Recreation

 

The birthplace of Gibson Guitars, Kalamazoo is one of the fastest growing cities in the state offering a mixture of city and suburban life with plenty of urban green space. The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo helps to organize artistic and cultural opportunities throughout the city and surrounding neighborhoods. They host annual art fairs, rotating artist exhibitions, and performing art shows at their All Ears Theatre. On the first Friday of every month, the arts council organizes an Art Hop throughout downtown where local businesses display works by local artists. For outdoor recreation there is the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail which runs through the city, linking nearby communities to the area’s parks.

For those who are interested in educational opportunities, there are plenty of great museums in Kalamazoo to spend a day at. The Kalamazoo Valley Museum has a full-sized planetarium as well as exhibits on science, technology, and history. The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts features a wide collection of American and European art. Fans of aviation might enjoy the Air Zoo museum which features vintage aircraft, flight simulators, and rides for the kids. The Gilmore Car Museum offers a collection of vintage automobiles as well as a historic 1950’s diner.

 

Transportation

Public transportation is made available by Kalamazoo Metro Transit which operates 20 routes throughout the metropolitan area. Most of these bus routes service the city proper. There are some however that provide service into the neighboring communities of Portage, Parchment, Comstock Township, Kalamazoo Township, and Oshtemo Township.