Kalamazoo County, Michigan

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.2 | 262,215 people · 20th most distressed in Michigan
American Default Research

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Kalamazoo County, MI registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.2 — 1441st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Michigan, it ranks 20th of 83 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Kalamazoo County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 82.3 — worse than roughly 82% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 82.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 85
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 83
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 64
Homeownership Rate 87
Legal Distress 63.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 63
Consumer Credit Distress 46.1
Debt in Collections 48
Medical Debt 60
Auto Loan Delinquency 56
Credit Card Delinquency 39
Uninsured Rate 18
Subprime Credit Population 43
Economic Vitality 32.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 15
Rent-to-Income Ratio 46
Business Formation Rate 50
House Price Change (YoY) 50
Structural Poverty 31.4
Unemployment Rate 64
Poverty Rate 46
Income vs. State Median 26
Child Poverty Rate 33
Disability Rate 19
Transfer Income Dependency 17

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Kalamazoo County
Kalamazoo County, MI 52.2 Elevated —
Calhoun County, MI 65.1 Serious +12.9
Branch County, MI 51.8 Elevated -0.4
Van Buren County, MI 49.0 Normal -3.2
St. Joseph County, MI 47.4 Normal -4.8
Cass County, MI 46.3 Normal -5.9
Barry County, MI 35.6 Normal -16.6
Allegan County, MI 32.0 Healthy -20.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Kalamazoo County
Sedgwick County, KS 52.2 Elevated -0.0
Madison County, AL 52.3 Elevated +0.1
Buncombe County, NC 52.0 Elevated -0.2
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT 52.0 Elevated -0.2
Arapahoe County, CO 52.7 Elevated +0.5

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Kalamazoo County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Kalamazoo County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Kalamazoo County.

KALAMAZOO NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES, INC
Kalamazoo
269-385-2916 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab

See all counselors in Michigan →

Find an Attorney

State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-968-0738

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Kalamazoo County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid & Defender Association of Detroit 313-967-5555
Michigan Legal Help / Wolverine Legal Aid
Neighborhood Legal Services of Michigan 248-548-3838
Michigan Advocacy Program 616-774-0672
Legal Services of South Central Michigan 734-665-6181
Lakeshore Legal Aid (888) 783-8190
Legal Aid of Western Michigan (616) 774-0672
Legal Services of Eastern Michigan (800) 322-4512
Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Inc. (906) 786-2303

Self-Help Resources

Michigan Legal Help — Foreclosure Self-help guides and interactive tools for Michigan foreclosure process and defenses
MSHDA Homeowner Resources Assistance programs, counselor referrals, and MIHAF information

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Michigan →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Kalamazoo County, Michigan?

    Kalamazoo County has a County Distress Index score of 52.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,441st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 20th in Michigan out of 83 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Kalamazoo County?

    The primary driver of distress in Kalamazoo County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 82.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Kalamazoo County compare to neighboring counties?

    Kalamazoo County (52.2) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Calhoun County, MI (65.1); Branch County, MI (51.8); Van Buren County, MI (49.0).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Elevated zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Kalamazoo County's score of 52.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power Kalamazoo County's CDI score?

    Kalamazoo County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Kalamazoo County?

    Kalamazoo County, Michigan has a population of approximately 262,215 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.