Living in Kalamazoo, Michigan: Tips for Moving and Visiting 2024

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If you've been wondering what it's like to live in or visit Kalamazoo, the Crowdsourced Explorer community can help. We asked eight people living in Kalamazoo what someone who is considering moving to or visiting there should know. Here are their pros and cons, tips, and advice:

Recent advice...Jane on Stockport, United Kingdom: xThe old parts of town – the underbank and marketplace are much improved. Heaton moor is an excellent place to live. Read more ›

Recent advice...Esther on Sokoto, Nigeria: xThe state is peaceful; low crime rate, affordable accommodations, low transportation prices, good schools and affordable food with an adequate healthcare system. Read more ›

Recent advice...Refilwe on Bethlehem, South Africa: xBethlehem is a small yet vibrant town with all age groups of people and mixed population when it comes to race. The cost of living is fair. I would highly… Read more ›

Recent advice...lucy on Stockholm, Sweden: xStockholm has amazing water views. The Art scene is fab. The food is amazing. Read more ›

Recent advice...MCHARO on Mombasa, Kenya: xIf you are coming to Mombasa you need to visit the pirates beach, Fort Jesus, which is a historical site and the nature trail which is a natural park. Read more ›

Recent advice...Evy on Brussels, Belgium: xIf moving to Brussels, it’s best to avoid the south of Brussels (Schaarbeek, Etterbeek…) The housing is cheaper but much more dangerous. Belgium is a small country but has very… Read more ›

Recent advice...Agbor on Essen, Germany: xEssen is located in the Northwest Region of Germany. It is an average city with lots of foreigners. It has a very good transport system with many African shops. Read more ›

Recent advice...Cassidy on Bogor, Indonesia: xBe prepared to familiarize yourself with public transport because there are a lot of places that have similar destinations but have different routes. The best way to commute within the… Read more ›

Recent advice...Emmanuel on Nairobi, Kenya: xPlanning to move to Nairobi? Get ready for an exciting mix of city living and thrilling adventures! Experience the lively markets, indulge in mouthwatering street food, and have the awe-inspiring… Read more ›

Recent advice...Pierre on Gaborone, Botswana: xWe live on a homestead, about 12 min drive outside the CBD. The blessing of not having traffic, the vibe of city and nature combined is to die for. Read more ›

Recent advice...Xolani on Johannesburg, South Africa: xJohannesburg residents have a 6th sense about people from here and who understand the unspoken rules of the concrete jungle. Plan your routes, always walk like you know where you… Read more ›

Recent advice...James on Nuremberg, Germany: xSpeaking German would be helpful but not necessary. Cold winters, warm summers, nice people. Finding affordable nice accommodation may be difficult. Read more ›

Recent advice...Evans on Los Angeles, United States: xLos Angeles, often abbreviated as L.A., is the largest city in California and the second-largest in the United States, following New York City. Known for its Mediterranean climate, diverse population,… Read more ›

Recent advice...Neha on Faridabad, India: xWell, I’ve stayed in Faridabad for 9 years. The city has come up and developed quiet a lot since then. There are some good malls and big brands to shop… Read more ›

Recent advice...Frenzer on Nairobi, Kenya: xIf you are moving to Nairobi City, everyone is welcoming and cheerful but if you seem to be a newbie the people will take advantage of it. For example, paying… Read more ›

Recent advice...CamCamBlue on Ann Arbor, United States: xIt’s the most expensive city in Michigan, and fast growing. We have a lovely park system and nice small, surrounding towns. Read more ›

Recent advice...Anne on North Adelaide, Australia: xBest kept secret – clean, friendly, beautiful hills and beaches. Read more ›

Recent advice...Dipti on Vadodara, India: xPeaceful place to stay and roam. Very safe. Read more ›

Recent advice...Shannah on Thibodaux, United States: xThibodaux is a quaint town with affordable homes. It’s a great area to raise children! Read more ›

Recent advice...Kaspars on Chiang Mai, Thailand: xAbsolutely stunning city in the northern part of Thailand. I would say spiritual and food capital of Thailand. There are more than 300 temples scattered around the city. If you… Read more ›

Recent advice...Corne on Bloemfontein, South Africa: xBloemfontein is a very close knit community with friendly people. The town isn’t really clean and well maintained. It has really brilliant schools that are affordable. Read more ›

Recent advice...Felix on Johannesburg, South Africa: xJohannesburg, often referred to as Jo’burg or Jozi, is the largest city in South Africa and the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in the country. Here are some… Read more ›

Recent advice...Noemie on Albuquerque, United States: xFor the US the cost of living is low. There is an abundance of things to do in nature & the pace of life is slower than other US cities.… Read more ›

Recent advice...Simona on Bitola, North Macedonia: xIf someone is moving to Bitola they should be at ease in not spending much money on security CCTV for securing their property, grandmas are out on their balconies/windows 24/7… Read more ›

Recent advice...Ahmed on Samanoud, Egypt: xWelcome to Samanoud, a historic gem in Egypt’s Gharbia Governorate! Once known as Sebennytos, this city features remnants of a temple dedicated to the god Anhur and his lioness goddess… Read more ›

Recent advice...Grace on Kadoma, Zimbabwe: xIf you’re moving to Kadoma you’ll need to be prepared for the heat and the dust. The roads are dusty and bad but the biggest plus is that its rich… Read more ›

Recent advice...Jeff on Minneapolis, United States: x4 wondrous seasons and thriving activities in each. Great park system thriving downtown and the Mississippi River are all here. Welcoming people convey the famous ‘Minnesota Nice’. Several world class… Read more ›

Recent advice...Esther on Lagos, Nigeria: xLagos, Nigeria is a vibrant, rapidly growing hub that’s always buzzing with energy. Known for its beautiful beaches and historic sites, it is a must-visit for anyone with an adventurous… Read more ›

Recent advice...Erick on Singapore: xIt’s the best place for working due to safety, high salary, and great transportation. Singapore is a city that is suitable for any lifestyle whether you live a frugal living… Read more ›

Recent advice...Jamie on Highlands Ranch, United States: xA really lovely suburb of Denver. Incredibly clean, well planned community. Low crime rate. Very walkable. Lots of conveniences nearby. Tons of parks for the kids. Only downside is that… Read more ›

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8 comments on “Kalamazoo”

Know that crime has increased way beyond the size of the city. Housing costs too.

HELPFUL REPORT

Beautiful spring, summer and fall but winters often quite cold. Small city with university and good shopping and dining and excellent recreational opportunities nearby. Excellent connections to larger cities.

Kalamazoo is the home to WMU and a ton of microbreweries. Brewpubs are a staple in this town. We have a strong sense of community. Kalamazoo is just a short drive away from South Haven which is on Lake Michigan. This is a beautiful area.

Properly choosing the correct location within or around the city is an important task. There are several diverse socioeconomic areas to choose from with home prices reflecting them. Working with a realtor that knows the area is a must as by outside appearances, the majority of homes are well kept.

While Kalamazoo may not have the exciting day-to-day lifestyle afforded by larger municipalities, the city is perfect for those who prefer a quiet, family-friendly, suburban area. Kalamazoo’s educational system is unique; all of its K-12 education programs are part of the Kalamazoo Promise, a program that offers full tuition coverage for any Kalamazoo Public Schools graduate attending an in-state university. Another attraction is the city’s downtown, which bustles with an abundance of small businesses and frequent community events, such as the annual Kalamazoo Pride parade. I can confidently say that I plan on living here for years to come.

Kalamazoo has numerous local craft beers available on draft, and many wonderful family-owned restaurants and food trucks. Kalamazoo has many nature preserves and walking trails and a world-class aviation museum. Kalamazoo is home to three colleges including two universities. Kalamazoo is not far from Lake Michigan so a day trip to the beach is common.

Kalamazoo is a small city with numerous hiking trails that wind through the bountiful woods that cover the land. There are over 100 lakes in Kalamazoo County, so people who love the outdoors will appreciate Kalamazoo’s abundant nature. Autumn in Kalamazoo is gorgeous, although fleeting, with trees of vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. It is a wonderful place: you can get to Chicago by train or Detroit by car in just over two hours, so it offers all the comforts of a small town with easy access to the excitement of a large city.

Kalamazoo is a wonderous city. It has been ranked as one of the safest and most family-friendly cities in Michigan. I find that Kalamazoo offers the best balance between the city and suburban lifestyles; we have a gorgeous downtown and the residential neighborhoods are a pleasure.

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Living in Kalamazoo, Michigan: Tips for Moving and Visiting

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8 comments on “Kalamazoo”

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Living in Kalamazoo, Michigan:
Tips for Moving and Visiting