ZIP Code · MI

ZIP 49008

Part of Kalamazoo, MI

Pop. 16,137·Kalamazoo County·131st most expensive ZIP in Michigan

Median rent (all units)

$1,245/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.1%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

-$687

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 49008 · $1,245

More affordable than 89% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$800

1 BR

$950

2 BR

$1,110

3 BR

$1,460

4 BR+

$1,510

Research median

$1,110/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

March. Asking rents in ZIP 49008 usually run 0.4% below trend in March and 0.5% above it in August, about $11 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 49008 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2020.

Past year vs. the rest of Michigan

Rent in ZIP 49008 changed +1.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 134 Michigan ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.4%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($74,943) is $1,874 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,510).

Rank in Kalamazoo

4th cheapest of 5 ZIP codes in Kalamazoo.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 49008. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$14,940/yr

At $1,245/mo median

Location

CityKalamazoo

StateMI

CountyKalamazoo County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.1% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 49008 (Kalamazoo, MI) is majority owner-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, 55.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

16,137

Median income

$74,943

Median age

33.6

Renters

33.8%

Age distribution

15.8%

36.4%

21.8%

16.5%

Under 1815.8%

18–3436.4%

35–5421.8%

55–649.5%

65+16.5%

Gender

46.5%

53.5%

Male46.5%

Female53.5%

Race & ethnicity

77.7%

White77.7%

Black11.8%

Hispanic4.9%

Asian2.6%

Other3%

Education (25+)

15.1%

24.4%

55.7%

No HS diploma4.8%

HS diploma15.1%

Some college24.4%

Bachelor's+55.7%

Housing tenure

66.2%

33.8%

Owner66.2%

Renter33.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 49008 in Kalamazoo, MI has changed in 5 years

Rent

$952 → $1,245

up 30.8%

Income

$60,000 → $74,943

up 24.9%

Population

17,034 → 16,137

down 5.3%

Renter share

38.3% → 33.8%

-4.5 pts

Bachelor's+

56.1% → 55.7%

-0.4 pts

Median age

30.7 → 33.6

+2.9 yrs

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 49008 in Kalamazoo, MI paid around $952 a month. That figure now sits near $1,245, up 30.8% from the 2021 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $60,000 in 2021 to $74,943 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show ZIP 49008 in Kalamazoo, MI losing about 897 residents over the five-year window, down 5.3% on net. The renter share has eased from 38.3% to 33.8%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 49008 in Kalamazoo, MI market of 2021.

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About renting in ZIP 49008

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 49008 covers Kalamazoo, MI. The median rent here is $1,245/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $950/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,110/mo.

At 20% of local median household income ($74,943/yr), ZIP 49008 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 49008?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $50,000/year (about $24/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,245/mo in ZIP 49008. The local median household income is $74,943/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 49008?

Rent in ZIP 49008 has risen 1.1% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2020.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 49008?

Asking rents in ZIP 49008 are usually lowest in March, about 0.4% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 0.5% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $11 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 49008 compare to other ZIPs in Michigan?

ZIP 49008 is one of the more affordable among Michigan ZIP codes for rent, ranking #131 of 168 at $1,245/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 49008 changed +1.1%, against a typical +4.4% across the 134 Michigan ZIP codes Zillow tracks.