Photo: User Mxobe on en.wikipedia · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Kalamazoo is healthier than 58%
Kalamazoo differs from Michigan on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 17 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Kalamazoo. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Kalamazoo is healthier than 28%. Against the 6,553 towns with similar household incomes ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 58%. Health Grade ↓
Mental distress runs high in Kalamazoo
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (23%), vs 17.6% across Michigan. Depression is above the state too: 31.4%, vs 25.7% across Michigan. Mind & connection ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Kalamazoo
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (26.2%), vs 15.4% across Michigan. No reliable transportation (14.6% vs 8.3%) and utility shut-off threats (14.5% vs 8.7%) are higher too. 27.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Every town around Kalamazoo scores healthier
All five graded neighbors are ahead of Kalamazoo’s C, from Kalamazoo Township (C+) to Portage (A−). Around town ↓
Cancer and arthritis are less common in Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo runs below Michigan on cancer (6% vs 8.9%), arthritis (22.8% vs 29.1%) and heart disease (5.6% vs 7%). A young population is part of it: only 11% of residents are 65 or older (Michigan 19%). Conditions ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Michigan figure falls outside Kalamazoo’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Kalamazoo’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kalamazoo is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns, #526 of 701 in Michigan. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 77% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Kalamazoo’s median household income is $52,272; among the 6,553 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 58%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Kalamazoo compares well: high blood pressure, 31.3% (U.S. 34.4%); high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 30.4% (U.S. 37.1%); arthritis, 22.8% (U.S. 25.3%).
How Kalamazoo adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Kalamazoo runs above Michigan.
2 in 5 Kalamazoo adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
27.3% of Kalamazoo adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Kalamazoo and the towns around it
Kalamazoo’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 6 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo | C | 41.8% | 10.3% | 16.7% | CDC place |
| Kalamazoo Township | C+ | 40.4% | 10.5% | 15.6% | ZIP codes |
| Portage | A− | 35.7% | 9.4% | 11.3% | CDC place |
| Eastwood | — | — | — | — | |
| Oshtemo Township | B+ | 36.2% | 9.6% | 11.7% | ZIP 49009 |
| Westwood | — | — | — | — | |
| Comstock Township | C+ | 40.2% | 10.8% | 15.4% | ZIP codes |
| Parchment | B− | 40.9% | 10.4% | 15.6% | CDC place |
Eastwood and Westwood: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Kalamazoo adults…
Kalamazoo runs below MI on 7 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Kalamazoo residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Michigan. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Kalamazoo
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Kalamazoo, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Kalamazoo; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
22 miles of trails across 42 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Kalamazoo adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Kalamazoo adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Kalamazoo
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Kalamazoo is better than Michigan on 7 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Kalamazoo’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Kalamazoo | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.4%20.2–24.7 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%13.1–16.1 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23%21–25.2 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.8%37.7–46.2 | 36.2% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 10.3%9.2–11.5 | 11.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.3%28.8–33.9 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.4%28–33 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 22.8%20.9–24.8 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.8%11.5–14.1 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6%5.5–6.5 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.6%5.1–6.1 | 7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 7.9%7.2–8.7 | 8.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%3.1–3.5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.1%12.5–18 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.7%14.8–18.6 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.5%25.4–31.7 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17.3%14.9–19.9 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.8%27.1–36.9 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.6%8.4–11 | 6.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.1%74.2–79.9 | 80.3% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.4%57.1–63.8 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.5%77.4–81.5 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69.9%67.5–72.1 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.1%62.6–71.4 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.6%69.8–82.6 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 31.4%28.4–34.5 | 25.7% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 39%34.8–43.3 | 32.4% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.4%22.3–28.7 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.2%23.5–29.2 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.2%16–20.5 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.5%12.9–16.4 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.6%13.1–16.3 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 27.3%24.6–30.2 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35%31.9–38.3 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.2%11.9–14.6 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20%18.2–21.9 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.4%5.8–7.1 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%6.3–7.4 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.1%11.1–13.3 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4.2–4.9 | 3.8% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Michigan figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Kalamazoo
Is Kalamazoo a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kalamazoo is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #526 of 701 in Michigan. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Kalamazoo?
CDC estimates 41.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.7% and 46.2%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Kalamazoo?
Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Kalamazoo’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Kalamazoo have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.4–11%), against 6.9% across Michigan.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Kalamazoo more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Kalamazoo.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Michigan figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.