Speedway - N. Riverview Drive, 2020
Parchment’s story
117 years in pictures
The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2005.
- 1909Parchment is settled
Population
1,887
2025 Census estimate · −2% since 2020
Typical home
$204K
+2.8% in a year
Household income
$73K
median
Median age
29.4
years
Jobs based here
919
Balanced
Is Parchment a good place to live?
The best of Parchment’s subject grades are an A for walkability and the outdoors. On walkability, just 44 of Michigan’s 1,279 towns do better. Parchment’s median age is 29.4 years, where Michigan’s towns sit at 42.5 years and U.S. towns at 40.5 years. Parchment’s trail density is 1.8 miles per square mile, against 0.3 in Michigan’s towns and 0.4 across U.S. towns. Only 78 of Michigan’s 1,265 towns score lower on civic life. Kindleberger Park, at 35 acres with 1.3 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. Parchment has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Parchment stand out
Where Parchment beats most towns.
How Parchment grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Michigan), ordered by how far Parchment is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.7 of 20; 5.8% of households have no carAOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 36% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listBOpen →SchoolsC+Open →HealthBorgess Medical Center 1.5 miles awayB−Open →Cost of livingB−Open →Jobs & income$73K median household incomeB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 6% conserved landAOpen →HistoryCOpen →Civic life2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Parchment: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Parchment, and how to reach them.
PowerConsumers Energy20.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterKalamazoo water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpWednesdayTrash dayTown 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 hereParchment City ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code4900449004 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 Parchment.
Who lives here
Fewer of Parchment’s residents are 65 or older than in the typical Michigan or U.S. town
10% of residents are 65 or older in Parchment. Parchment has lost 2% of its people since 2020, down to 1,887 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. Adults 18 to 34 are 39% of residents (22% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 29% of residents (38% statewide).
29.4median age · MI 40.2
| Parchment | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 10% | 19% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 24% | 26% | 29% |
ParchmentMichiganUnited States
Ages · share of residents
25%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma3%
High school30%
Some college31%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s17%
Graduate6%
Women and men · all residents
54% women, 46% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±5 points. Across Michigan, 50.4% of residents are women. Among residents 75 and older, 84% are women (MI 58%).
| Parchment | MI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12.3% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.8% | 10.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 14.2% | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 25.1% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.6% | 12.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 5.5% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 9.1% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 6.4% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 3.9% | 7.4% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.4% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 29.9% | 28% | 26% |
| Some college | 30.9% | 21.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.4% | 9.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 17.2% | 19.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 6.3% | 12.7% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,900, single groups can be off by several points
SchoolsC+
On state tests, Parchment’s schools trail 60% of Michigan districts
Its public schools are run by the Parchment School District. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Parchment High School, with 412 students.
40%of MI districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parchment Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 352 | C− |
| Parchment High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 8–12 | Grades 8–12 | 412 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MI on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade B−
A typical Parchment home is worth about $204K
The typical Parchment home is worth about $204,000, up 2.8% in a year, 23% below the Michigan typical home. 58% of Parchment households own their home.
$204KZillow home value
| Parchment | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 58% | 84% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,045 a month | $1,046 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Parchment$204K
Michigan$264K
+2.8%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
In Parchment, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
Parchment has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 18° and about 65 inches of snow falls in a winter.
65″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter20–34°
Spring37–59°
Summer59–82°
Fall42–61°
Oct 18
typical first frost
Apr 28
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
Most working residents commute out of Parchment
Most working residents leave Parchment for work: only 4% work in town. Parchment’s average trip to work is 20 minutes. Since 2011, Parchment has added 324 jobs, to 919 in 2021.
4%work in town
| Parchment | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 20 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 6.6% | 8.9% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.8% | 5.9% | 8% |
| Median household income | $73,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Parchment4%
Kalamazoo27%
Portage11%
Oshtemo Township6%
Kalamazoo Township5%
7 mi
median commute distance
919
jobs based in Parchment
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 88% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B
Low risk in Parchment, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 64% of U.S. communities.
36risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHail
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
5.7%conserved
5.7%
conserved · 34 of 603 acres
1.6 mi
of trails · 1.8 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Kindleberger Park | 1.3 mi | 35 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthB−
Health in Parchment trails 55% of U.S. towns
Parchment beats the Michigan average on 5 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3.
45%healthier than U.S. townsB−Health Grade
| Parchment | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 27% | 23% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 35% | 32% | 33% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 18% | 17% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 37% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
5 better24 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Parchment | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 5.8% | 7% |
| Fewer adults who have had a stroke | 3.2% | 3.7% |
| More adults with depression | 30% | 25.7% |
Borgess Medical Center
1.5 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Nearby attractions
All 39 attractions →Air Zoo and 9 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Parchment. Close and well known come first.
7 mi Theme parkAir Zoo
11 mi MuseumGilmore Car Museum87K visitors a year
3 mi MuseumKalamazoo Institute of Arts22 mi Zoo & aquariumBinder Park Zoo
31 mi MuseumAmerican Museum of Magic
3 mi MuseumKalamazoo Valley MuseumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Air Zoo: User:my name, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Gilmore Car Museum: Kevin S. Forsyth, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Kalamazoo Institute of Arts: 72elyod, CC BY-SA 3.0 · American Museum of Magic: rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Kalamazoo Valley Museum: Cody Hough, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Parchment
18pages on Parchment
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
4 within 15 miles of the center of Parchment
Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of MedicineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Kalamazoo2.7 miWestern Michigan UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Kalamazoo4 mi$15,252 in-state tuitionKalamazoo Valley Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Kalamazoo9.2 mi$4,144 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Parchment residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Michigan.
About Parchment
City in Michigan, United States
Parchment is a city in Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 2020 census recorded a population of 1,926. The name is derived from the parchment company that used to manufacture paper on the East bank of the Kalamazoo River. Parchment is located just northeast of the city of Kalamazoo, and it is mostly surrounded by Kalamazoo Township.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1909
- Area
- 0.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 774 ft
- Area code
- 269
Parchment’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Parchment.
Kalamazoo TownshipKalamazooParchment
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parchment | — | — | B− | — | C+ | B− |
| Kalamazoo Township | #667 | D | C+ | D | C | C+ |
| Kalamazoo | #675 | D | C+ | D− | C | C |
Parchment has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Parchment reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Parchment with a neighbor →
Questions about Parchment
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Parchment, MI expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.