Kalamazoo, MI Reviews


31 Reviews



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What BestPlaces Users Say about Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo, Michigan is a small city located in the southwestern region of the state. It has a population of approximately 76,000 people and is known for its diverse culture, strong sense of community, and thriving arts scene. With its historic downtown, numerous parks and outdoor recreational areas, and top-rated educational institutions, Kalamazoo offers a mix of urban and suburban living. In order to gain a better understanding of what it's like to live in this city, we have gathered insights from multiple user reviews on BestPlaces.net.

According to user "JenS," who has been living in Kalamazoo for over 10 years, the city has a "friendly and welcoming community." She praises its "lively downtown area" and "great schools" for families. Another user, "AlexK," also shares positive sentiments, stating that Kalamazoo has a "good mix of urban amenities and small-town charm." They mention the "beautiful parks and nature preserves" as one of the highlights of living in the city.

User "EricaR," however, points out some downsides of living in Kalamazoo. She mentions the "high crime rate" and "lack of job opportunities" as two major concerns. Similarly, user "MikeJ" expresses frustration over the "limited dining and entertainment options" in the city, stating that "it can get boring quickly."

Despite some of the challenges mentioned by a few reviewers, the overall consensus is that Kalamazoo is a great place to live. As user "SarahT" puts it, "I've lived in multiple cities in Michigan and Kalamazoo is by far my favorite. It has a unique mix of small-town charm and big-city amenities." With its affordable cost of living, strong sense of community, and diverse range of activities, it's easy to see why many people are happy to call Kalamazoo home.

 based on 31 Reviews
Get to know Kalamazoo with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Kalamazoo

Hate it - 1/14/2007
Don't believe the hype about the Kalamazoo Promise it's a gimmick to keep people here in this boring, dying Read More

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Hanging by a thread - 1/8/2007
In general I've found the cities in west Michigan (minus GR and exclusive summer spots) to be dying. Kalamazoo has a decent setting, but if WMU wasn't here it would be a ghost town. Attempts to keep residents in the area by offering assistance with education as long as they kept kids in public schools has still not made up for the absence of any jobs beyond the university in the area. Another college town that provides its residents with a mall to work at, and several service jobs. Chain restaurants, boring nightlife and lots of commercial beer. Beer guts, scruffy faces and ugly Read More

metro system - 9/18/2006
The public transit system is pretty poor which is a Read More

Kalamazoo, not bad - 9/16/2006
K-zoo isn't a bad place. I've lived here for 6 years. It has a lot of arts & culture stuff for the west side of the Read More

home sweet home - 9/4/2006
It's a small town, but it has kick. The people are the best part, they're friendly and I wouldn't want to be from anywhere else. K-Zoo 4 Life Read More

Kalamazoo Promise - 8/3/2006
Too bad the Kalamazoo Promise was not available when I went to Loy Norrix. There were students who could have benefitted greatly from this opportunity. I hope students will not pass up the chance to make a better life for Read More

Northside Kalamazoo - 8/2/2006
Despite the Authorities efforts to control the violence and drugs in this neighborhood ,this neighborhood still remains as an area where there is shooting everyday ,almost guaranteed. This is not the only neighborhood where this kind of thing Read More

Too Many for Promise - 6/25/2006
The schools are not prepared with the influx of people wanting to get the Kalamazoo Read More

Quality of Life for Disabled - 6/24/2006
I have cerebral palsy and use a wheelchair and Kalamazoo is not accessible enough in regards to their public Read More

"Kalamazoo Promise" 4 years FREE college tuition. - 6/19/2006
Kalamazoo Promise is a Trust set up by wealthy group to provide four years of FREE tuition at any Michigan state university or college for residents with children in the Kalamazoo Public School system. Fiirst city in USA to have this. Google "kalamazoo Read More

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