Kaleva Informational, 2015
Kaleva’s story
126 years in pictures
Census counts: 346 in 1950, 507 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and a map from 1956 on.
- 1900Kaleva is settled
Photo: Doug Coldwell · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
517
2025 Census estimate · −0.8% since 2020
Typical home
$223K
+11.5% in a year
Household income
$43K
median
Median age
37.4
years
Jobs based here
160
Balanced
Is Kaleva a good place to live?
35% of residents live below the poverty line in Kaleva, above both Michigan’s towns (8.9%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Kaleva’s trail density is 1.7 miles per square mile, where Michigan’s towns sit at 0.3 and U.S. towns at 0.4. Kaleva has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
517 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Kaleva: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Kaleva, and how to reach them.
PowerConsumers Energy20.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterVillage of Kaleva water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers13% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpMaple Grove Township Transfer StationDrop-offTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Michigan you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereMaple Grove Township ClerkMaple Grove Township; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code4964549645 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Kaleva.
Natural hazards
Kaleva faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 78% of U.S. communities.
22risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesLightning
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Kaleva, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
Kaleva has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Kaleva’s July high is 81°F.
93″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–31°
Spring32–54°
Summer55–79°
Fall39–58°
Sep 25
typical first frost
May 28
typical last frost
+2.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Kaleva
Most working residents leave Kaleva for work: only 5% work in town. The median household income in Kaleva is $43,000. Jobs based in Kaleva grew to 160 in 2021, 40 more than in 2011.
5%work in town
| Kaleva | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $43,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Kaleva5%
Traverse City9%
Maple Grove Township7%
Weldon Township5%
Manistee Township5%
21 mi
median commute distance
160
jobs based in Kaleva
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
Housing
Kaleva’s typical home value is about $223K
The typical Kaleva home is worth about $223,000, up 11.5% in a year, 16% below the Michigan typical home.
$223KZillow home value
| Kaleva | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,594 a month | $1,046 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 80% | 84% | 73% |
Typical home value
Kaleva$223K
Michigan$264K
+11.5%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Health
How healthy Kaleva is
Kaleva beats the Michigan average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 12. 18% of adults report frequent physical distress in Kaleva.
| Kaleva | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 14% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 15% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 25% | 25% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 27% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
0 better20 too close to call12 worse
| What stands out | Kaleva | MI |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 17.8% | 10.2% |
| More adults with COPD | 11.9% | 8.1% |
| More smokers | 20% | 14.6% |
Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital
14.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Outdoors
Kaleva has set aside 3.8% of its land for conservation
1.9 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves.
3.8%conserved
3.8%
conserved · 26 of 702 acres
1.9 mi
of trails · 1.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Kaleva Roadside Park | — | 18 |
| 2. Kaleva Centennial Walkway | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 7 attractions →Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and 4 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Kaleva. Close and well known come first.
20 mi National LakeshoreSleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore1.6M visitors a year
35 mi National forestManistee National Forest
18 mi TheatreRamsdell Theatre37 mi MuseumShrine of the Pines10 mi MuseumMichigan Legacy Art ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore: en:User:Grod028, Public domain · Manistee National Forest: RomanKahler, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ramsdell Theatre: Doug Coldwell, CC BY-SA 4.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Kaleva
17pages on Kaleva
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Kaleva; the nearest are
West Shore Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Scottville29.8 mi$4,470 in-state tuitionFerris State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Big Rapids54.2 mi$14,778 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Kaleva residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.
About Kaleva
Village in Michigan, United States
Kaleva ( KAL-ə-və) is a village in Manistee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 507 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1900
- Area
- 1.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 755 ft
- ZIP code
- 49645
Questions about Kaleva
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Kaleva, MI a good place to live?
Kaleva has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.