Performance
Score Breakdown
Flushing
Kalamazoo
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Flushing is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
100% lower compared to Kalamazoo.
Housing costs are a major driver: Flushing's average rent is
100% lower than Kalamazoo's.
| Metric | Flushing | Kalamazoo | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $0 | $1,135 | -100% |
| Groceries | $0 | $400 | -100% |
| Utilities | $0 | $180 | -100% |
| Transport | $0 | $120 | -100% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $250 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $0 | $2,085 | -100% |
| Cost Index | 86 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Kalamazoo offers 100% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Flushing | Kalamazoo |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $0 | $65,000 |
| Salary Needed | $0 | $55,000 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Flushing | Kalamazoo |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | % | 72.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Flushing has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
9,500 minutes (158 hours) per year compared to Kalamazoo.
Kalamazoo scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Kalamazoo leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Flushing | Kalamazoo |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | min | 19 min |
| Transit Score | 0.0/10 | 39.0/10 |
| Walkability | 0.0/10 | 47.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Kalamazoo is the larger city
.
From a growth perspective, Flushing is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Flushing has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Flushing | Kalamazoo |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 0 | 73,076 |
| Pop. Growth | % | % |
| Median Age | 26.9 | |
| Unemployment | % | 4.10% |
| GDP | $— | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Flushing
Kalamazoo
Advantages
Kalamazoo offers a cost of living that is 14% lower than the national average, with housing costs being 37% lower.
The average commute time in Kalamazoo is 18.5 minutes, significantly shorter than the national average of 26.4 minutes.
Kalamazoo's downtown area is highly walkable, with a Walk Score of 85, allowing residents to access amenities on foot.
Recent data indicates a positive trend in safety, with violent crime rates showing significant drops in 2024 and reaching 10-year lows in 2025.
The city has a strong presence of major employers in healthcare, education, and manufacturing, providing a stable job market.
Drawbacks
Kalamazoo has a higher crime rate compared to national averages, with a violent crime rate of 1283.5 per 100,000 residents.
The median household income in Kalamazoo ($52,272 in 2024) is lower than the national average.
While improving, Kalamazoo's safety profile is still a concern, with some sources ranking it among the more dangerous small cities in Michigan.
Public transportation options are limited, primarily consisting of bus routes, and the city has a high car dependency.
The unemployment rate in Kalamazoo County was 4.1% in 2024, which is slightly above the national average of 4.198% (though very close).
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Flushing
Michigan, USA
0.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
Commute
min
Transit Score
0.0/10
Walkability
0.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
%
Livability
0
Business
0
Kalamazoo
#117Michigan, USA
65.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,135
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
86
Commute
19 min
Transit Score
39.0/10
Walkability
47.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
74
Business
68
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