Example household · Kalamazoo, MI · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

Dr. Havilah Beardsley House

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Kalamazoo vs Elkhart

Kalamazoo and Elkhart

Photo: Nyttend / Wikimedia, Public domain

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

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So you know: homicide deaths in Elkhart are under the US rate in this release, 5.6 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Kalamazoo to Elkhart

In 2022-2023, 39 households filed a move from Kalamazoo to Elkhart (about 58 people, average adjusted gross income $42,026). 43 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $976 in Kalamazoo and $884 in Elkhart. Kalamazoo has a state tax on wages. Elkhart has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Elkhart is 89% of the national level for the same work, against 89% in Kalamazoo.

Elkhart averages 181 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 24°F. Kalamazoo is 168 sunny days, 81°F in July, 24°F in January. Commutes average 19 minutes in Elkhart and 20 in Kalamazoo.

These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 39 households moved Kalamazoo → Elkhart (about 58 people, average AGI $42,026). 43 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Kalamazoo and Elkhart changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 57 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$1,600–$2,950
Container or pod
$1,050–$2,000
Rent a truck
$350–$700

Movers in Elkhart and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Elkhart cheaper than Kalamazoo after tax and rent?

Yes. Elkhart leaves about $68 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $976 in Kalamazoo and $884 in Elkhart.

Does Elkhart have state income tax?

Elkhart is in Indiana, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 1.50%.

Did people actually move from Kalamazoo to Elkhart?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.