Kalamazoo, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Kalamazoo STRs averaged $161/night at 49.2% occupancy in April 2026, with an investability score of 97 out of 100.
Quick Answer: Kalamazoo, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 61%. average monthly revenue is $3,813. average daily rate is $248. the top operator is Evolve with 367 listings. market score is 80/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Michigan Area regional market, which includes Kalamazoo. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Kalamazoo.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Kalamazoo, Michigan is a mid-size West Michigan city with approximately 73,290 residents, home to Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, and a nationally recognized craft beer scene anchored by Bell’s Brewery. Tourism is driven by leisure travel, university-related visits, sports events, and brewery tourism. Visitor spending reached approximately $682 million in 2022, per Discover Kalamazoo.
As of April 2026, Kalamazoo STRs averaged $161/night ADR at 49.2% occupancy, producing RevPAR of $79 and average monthly revenue of $1,955. Year-over-year, occupancy was nearly flat (down 0.2%), ADR gained 3.1%, and revenue fell 2.2% from April 2025. The composite market score stands at 79.7 out of 100, with an exceptionally high investability score of 97.3, reflecting the market’s favorable entry costs and revenue growth trajectory.
The active listing pool totals approximately 9,105 properties. Entire-place rentals dominate at 8,475 listings (93.1% of the market), with 651 private rooms and 4 shared rooms. Two-bedroom properties lead the bedroom mix at 2,623, followed by three-bedroom (2,498), one-bedroom (2,252), four-bedroom (1,102), and five-bedroom (630). The channel split shows 4,192 listings exclusively on Airbnb, 3,798 on both platforms, and 1,140 exclusively on VRBO.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39% | $144 | $1,621 |
| Feb | 44% | $146 | $1,641 |
| Mar | 44% | $136 | $1,696 |
| Apr | 48% | $143 | $1,717 |
| May | 52% | $172 | $2,023 |
| Jun | 62% | $214 | $3,176 |
| Jul | 71% | $218 | $4,112 |
| Aug | 64% | $214 | $3,777 |
| Sep | 46% | $187 | $2,375 |
| Oct | 45% | $164 | $2,116 |
| Nov | 42% | $148 | $1,770 |
| Dec | 45% | $150 | $1,815 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Kalamazoo
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 367 | 11,455 | ★ 4.68 |
| 2 | Freshwater Vacation Rentals | 61 | 2,578 | ★ 4.85 |
| 3 | LiveSuites | 59 | 1,209 | ★ 4.67 |
| 4 | Short Term Rentals | 31 | 2,493 | ★ 4.68 |
| 5 | Simple Lyfe Stays | 29 | 2,365 | ★ 4.85 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Kalamazoo?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,252 |
| 2 bed | 2,623 |
| 3 bed | 2,498 |
| 4 bed | 1,102 |
| 5 bed | 630 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $260 |
| Luxury | $447 |
| Professionally Managed | $291 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,328 |
| Entire Place | $3,984 |
| House | $4,148 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 45.9% |
| vrbo | 12.5% |
| both | 41.6% |
Investment Analysis
Kalamazoo’s investability score of 97.3 out of 100 reflects a market where entry costs are low relative to revenue potential. April 2026 average monthly revenue of $1,955 implies annualized gross revenue of approximately $23,460 per property. Housing price data is not available for this market, so a gross yield calculation cannot be computed from the current data set.
ADR tiering shows meaningful upside at higher quality levels. The all-listing average was $161, entire-home listings averaged $173, professionally managed properties averaged $179, and luxury-tier listings commanded $335. The luxury-to-average spread of $174 per night (108% premium) is significant in absolute terms given the lower base price level.
Houses ($2,081 per month) and entire-place listings ($2,059) perform similarly in April, both well above apartments ($1,520) by approximately 36%. The revenue growth score of 80.4 indicates continued upward momentum on a per-property basis. The 2025 annual average monthly revenue was $2,743, up from $2,583 in 2024, demonstrating steady year-over-year improvement. Kalamazoo’s primary demand drivers, including WMU enrollment, brewery tourism, and sports events, provide relatively resilient baseline occupancy through non-peak periods.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
Run a Free Address Analysis
Skip the market averages. Get revenue projections, comp analysis, and ROI for your specific property address. Free, instant, no signup required.
Analyze My Property →Home Value Trends (Kalamazoo)
Booking Insights
Kalamazoo STR guests book an average of 41 days in advance, a roughly six-week lead time consistent with regional leisure and university-event travel. This window suggests dynamic pricing should be set at least 45 days out, with particular attention to the summer sports event calendar, Bell’s Brewery-related festivals, and Western Michigan University home football games, which can generate demand spikes within a relatively short booking window.
Average length of stay is 4.2 nights, indicating guests typically stay four to five days. This is consistent with a regional drive-market destination where visitors combine multiple activities over a long weekend or short vacation. Minimum-stay requirements of three to four nights during peak summer months (June through August) can maintain calendar efficiency without significantly deterring bookings, while two-night minimums may be appropriate in the winter shoulder when demand is thinner and keeping inventory occupied is the priority.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals in Kalamazoo (stays under 30 days) are legal but regulated through the city’s rental-housing program rather than a dedicated STR ordinance. Every STR must register with the City of Kalamazoo, designate a local registered agent who lives or works locally, and pass a housing-code inspection to obtain a Certificate of Compliance before operating. Registration costs approximately $110 annually, plus a $55 inspection fee. Certificates are issued for 28 to 52 months depending on compliance history, but registration renews annually.
Zoning is the primary gating factor for investors: STRs are treated as a commercial use, permitted by right mainly in commercial zoning districts and only in some residential districts with a variance. The city limits the number of unrelated adult occupants in residential zones as an additional constraint.
On taxes, operators owe Michigan’s 6% state use and lodging tax plus a 5% Kalamazoo County Accommodation Tax, for approximately 11% in combined transient taxes. Airbnb and VRBO do not automatically remit the county’s 5% tax, so operators must register with the County Treasurer and remit it directly. In mid-2024, Kalamazoo County moved to strengthen enforcement by authorizing the County Treasurer to assess fines and pursue collection against non-paying properties. No annual night cap, owner-occupancy requirement, or primary-residence mandate was identified. Enforcement is classified as moderate.
Market Comparison
Kalamazoo’s April 2026 occupancy of 49.2% sits below the US STR median of approximately 55%, which is typical for a Midwest city in the pre-summer shoulder month of April. ADR of $161 is below the national median of approximately $220, consistent with Kalamazoo’s positioning as an affordable regional market rather than a destination resort or coastal location.
Despite these below-national-median metrics, the investability score of 97.3 out of 100 is one of the highest possible, reflecting favorable acquisition cost-to-revenue ratios and a consistent revenue growth trend. Revenue grew from $2,483 annual average monthly in 2023 to $2,583 in 2024 and $2,743 in 2025.
Evolve leads the operator landscape with 367 listings and 11,455 reviews at a 4.68 average rating, by far the largest single operator in the market. Freshwater Vacation Rentals manages 61 listings at a 4.85 rating, LiveSuites holds 59 listings at 4.67, Short Term Rentals manages 31 listings at 4.68, and Simple Lyfe Stays operates 29 listings at 4.85. The top five operators collectively manage 547 listings, approximately 6.0% of the roughly 9,105 active listings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kalamazoo, Michigan
What is the average daily rate for STRs in Kalamazoo, MI?
What occupancy rate can I expect for a Kalamazoo short-term rental?
Why does Kalamazoo have such a high investability score despite lower ADR?
Do I need a permit to operate a short-term rental in Kalamazoo?
What are the tax obligations for Kalamazoo short-term rentals?
When is peak season for Kalamazoo short-term rentals?
Who are the largest short-term rental operators in Kalamazoo?
Analyze Kalamazoo Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Kalamazoo.
Free Kalamazoo STR Calculator →
