Real Estate Investing in Cooper, Michigan (49004)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Kalamazoo County • Population: 17,796 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 49004 (Cooper, MI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (80/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Cooper, MI (49004)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $230,587
Avg Monthly Rent $1,283
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $68,361
% Renters 23.5%

Market Analysis: 49004 Cooper

The 49004 ZIP covers a section of Cooper that demands careful diligence. Prices near $231K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $231K asset, 49004 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

ZIP 49004's metrics run below Kalamazoo County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Employment concentration in 49004 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategically, 49004 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Cooper:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,283/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
27 days
Average time to sell
Fast
13.7%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 49004

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$71,660/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $162,029 $1,190 5.3% +8.5% $81,015
3BR $214,980 $1,570 5.3% +7.9% $71,660
4BR $294,156 $1,610 3.9% +7.6% $73,539

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$242K$210K$178K$146K$114K$82KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,303$1,245$1,186$1,128$1,069$1,011May 2025Dec 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 49004 Compare?

Metric 49004 Cooper Kalamazoo-Portage, MI Michigan
Home Value $230,587 $230,587 N/A $253,279
5-Year CAGR 5.7% 5.7% N/A 6.8%
Avg Rent $1,283 $1,283 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.3% 4.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 49004? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 49004 (Cooper, MI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $230,587
Monthly Rent $1,283
Price-to-Rent 15.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.7%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 10.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +15.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
4.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 49004

Population: 17,796

💰 Median Household Income
$68,361
This area
$68,361
State
$68,013
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.5%
This area
23.5%
State
19.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.3%
This area
6.3%
State
-2.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
32.1%
This area
32.1%
State
16.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.5 years
This area
37.5 years
State
36.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 81.6%
Other/Mixed 9.1%
Black/African American 7.1%
Hispanic/Latino 4.2%
Asian 2.3%
👶 Under 18
22.0%
This area
22.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.4%
This area
17.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.5%
This area
9.5%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 49004

B+ Avg School Grade
7 Schools
17.1:1 Avg Class Size
$16,255 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Spring Valley Center for Exploration

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
256 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,334 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Parchment High School

📚 08 – 12 High School
👥
414 Students
👨‍🏫
17.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,075 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Parchment Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
334 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,075 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Parchment Northwood Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 03 Elementary
👥
168 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,075 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Parchment Central Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 03 Elementary
👥
286 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,075 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Parchment North Elem School

📚 04 – 05 Elementary
👥
244 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,075 Per Student
C Below Average

Parchment Innovation Center

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
120 Students
👨‍🏫
26.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,075 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

7 Nearby 2,270 Off-Campus Students
D
Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
352 students · 4.2 mi
C+
Kalamazoo College
1,196 students · 4.6 mi
C+
Western Michigan University
16,693 students · 5.4 mi
C+
West Michigan College of Barbering and Beauty
85 students · 6.4 mi
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Portage
94 students · 8.6 mi
C
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
6,320 students · 10.6 mi
B
Michigan Career and Technical Institute
118 students · 11.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,270 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in Cooper, MI?

Homes in Cooper, MI typically sell near $231K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which even-keeled long-term demand.

Are renters plentiful in Cooper, MI?

The renter base in Cooper, MI is reasonable for the $1,283/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields even-keeled tenants.

Is Cooper, MI a friendly market for rental owners?

Landlord-friendliness in Cooper, MI is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Cooper, MI?

Cooper, MI offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,283/mo rent level.

How tight is the rental market in Cooper, MI?

Cooper, MI vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

You know 49004 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 49004 ranks in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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