County FMR · HUD FY2026

Kalamazoo County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Kalamazoo County, MI - 4% above the US average.

$998
1-bedroom FMR
$1,162
2-bedroom FMR
+0.6%
YoY change
+4%
vs US avg

The verdict

Kalamazoo is the 28th most expensive of 83 counties in Michigan by 2-bedroom FMR.

#28
most expensive of 83 in Michigan (2BR)
+12%
vs the state average
$39,920
income to afford it (30% rule)
+0.6%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (41.5%); nearby Michigan counties range as much as 62% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Kalamazoo County, MI. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Kalamazoo County, Michigan at $998 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,162/mo and a studio is $838/mo. This is 4% higher than the national average of $959 and 12% above the Michigan average of $891.

Rent increased0.6% from FY 2025 ($992), roughly tracking inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $39,920/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Michigan. Population: 261,426. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.1%, Census ACS). That's in line with Michigan's statewide growth of +0.9% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Kalamazoo County

The Kalamazoo County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Michigan's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.

Kalamazoo County's 1-bedroom rent runs 4% above the US average of $959 and 12% higher than the Michigan state average of $891. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$992 in FY 2025 to $998 in FY 2026 - a change of +0.6%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $998, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $39,920 per year (about $3,327/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,162 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 261,426 and a county median household income of $70,525, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $807 · US avg: $893
$838/mo
↑ 1.2% YoY +4% vs state -6% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $891 · US avg: $959
$998/mo
↑ 0.6% YoY +12% vs state +4% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,113 · US avg: $1,175
$1,162/mo
↓ 1.6% YoY +4% vs state -1% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,419 · US avg: $1,525
$1,531/mo
↓ 2.1% YoY +8% vs state +0% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,588 · US avg: $1,756
$1,571/mo
↓ 6.0% YoY -1% vs state -11% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $828
$838
+$10 (+1.2%)
1 Bedroom $992
$998
+$6 (+0.6%)
2 Bedroom $1,181
$1,162
$-19 (-1.6%)
3 Bedroom $1,564
$1,531
$-33 (-2.1%)
4 Bedroom $1,671
$1,571
$-100 (-6.0%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$39,920
$3,327/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$46,480
$3,873/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Kalamazoo County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
14.3%
Affordable
Need $33,520/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
17%
Affordable
Need $39,920/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
19.8%
Affordable
Need $46,480/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
26.1%
Affordable
Need $61,240/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
26.7%
Affordable
Need $62,840/yr for 30% rule
How we calculate this

Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.

Kalamazoo County 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%19.8%
Kalamazoo County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $70,525 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Michigan rent burden →

Where Kalamazoo sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,162 Top 35% higher than 65% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). This entry sits in this band. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026

How Kalamazoo compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Michigan counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Kalamazoo is highlighted. Nearby Michigan counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Washtenaw County ($1,387), Kent County ($1,278), Wayne County ($1,122), Oakland County ($1,122), Macomb County ($1,122), Kalamazoo County (this county) ($998), Genesee County ($856).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $998/mo compares to Michigan salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation MI Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $107,820 11.1% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $99,660 12% Affordable
Registered Nurses $85,670 14% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $77,720 15.4% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $74,420 16.1% Affordable
Electricians $72,680 16.5% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $62,350 19.2% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $61,490 19.5% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,140 21.7% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $42,560 28.1% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $40,040 29.9% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $35,000 34.2% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $33,340 35.9% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $30,960 38.7% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,870 41.5% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Michigan) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Kalamazoo County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Kalamazoo (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 47.2% overall, from $678 to $998. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +20.3% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$600$700$800$900$1,000$1,100 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $998
Kalamazoo County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑0.6% $838 $998 $1,162
FY 2025 ↑13.0% $828 $992 $1,181
FY 2024 ↑2.7% $724 $878 $1,057
FY 2023 ↑20.3% $732 $855 $1,049
FY 2022 ↑0.9% $613 $711 $879
FY 2021 ↑4.0% $617 $705 $881
FY 2020 $579 $678 $839
Total change (6yr): +47.2%
Annualized: +6.7%/yr
1 BR: $678 → $998

Part of the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI Metro Area

Kalamazoo County is a central county of the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in Michigan

Largest counties by population in Michigan

Wayne County
1 BR: $1,122/mo Pop: 1,781,641
Oakland County
1 BR: $1,122/mo Pop: 1,272,264
Macomb County
1 BR: $1,122/mo Pop: 878,453
Kent County
1 BR: $1,278/mo Pop: 657,321
Genesee County
1 BR: $856/mo Pop: 405,280
Washtenaw County
1 BR: $1,387/mo Pop: 370,231
Ottawa County
1 BR: $1,333/mo Pop: 296,183
Ingham County
1 BR: $1,012/mo Pop: 282,540
View all counties in Michigan →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Kalamazoo County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Kalamazoo County is $998 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,162 and a studio is $838.
How does Kalamazoo County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Kalamazoo County is 4% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $998 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in Kalamazoo County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $39,920 ($3,327/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Kalamazoo County.
Is rent going up or down in Kalamazoo County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Kalamazoo County increased by 0.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $992 to $998.
Which jobs can afford rent in Kalamazoo County? ▼
Based on Michigan BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $998/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Kalamazoo County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Kalamazoo County went from $678 in FY 2020 to $998 in FY 2026, a total change of +47.2% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Kalamazoo County? ▼
In Kalamazoo County, the FY 2026 FMR of $998/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Kalamazoo County? ▼
For Kalamazoo County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($998/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Kalamazoo's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.

  • Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $998 implies about $39,920/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
  • Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
  • See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings

Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Kalamazoo can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.