Kalamazoo, MI vs Madison Heights, MI

Kalamazoo is moderately more affordable than Madison Heights, with a 8% lower cost of living index. Kalamazoo scores 78 compared to 84 for Madison Heights, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Madison Heights can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Kalamazoo is $1,031/month compared to $1,138/month in Madison Heights — a 9% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Kalamazoo is more affordable at $164,500 median vs $190,300.

Median household income in Kalamazoo is $48,965 compared to $66,726 in Madison Heights (-26.6%). While Madison Heights is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Kalamazoo spend roughly 25.3% of their income on rent, more than the 20.5% in Madison Heights.