Comstock has scenery and a “good hometown” community
Comstock is a charter township neighboring Kalamazoo, Michigan. The township is nicknamed the “bedding plant capital of the world” due to being a hotspot for growing plants. Comstock honors that title through places like the Kalamazoo River bridge, where flower baskets adorn the guardrails. Numerous planters have also been placed by Merrill Park and nearby businesses. Residents enjoy activities like nature walks or casting fishing lines from the river bridge. Amy Dyer-Taylor, the owner of Bert’s Bakery-Comstock, says the community is her favorite thing about Comstock. “We have a lot of good hometown people,” she says. “There’s just a lot of people who care about the community, and they’re trying to see great things done.”
The Community offers ranch-style homes, Craftsman and extra room
Groups of mature trees line Comstock’s streets, with some branches arching over the roads. Homeowners enjoy extra room, as many lots are over half an acre and have spacious backyards. Some lots also make room for recreational vehicles, basketball goals, swingsets and above-ground pools. Ranch-style homes are common. Other styles include Craftsman, Craftsman bungalows, Cape Cods, Colonial Revivals and a few Victorian-era homes. Costs go from $150,000 for an 840-square-foot home to $480,000 for a home on a multi-acre lot. “After living here 25 years, my neighborhood has improved dramatically with new young families coming in,” Dyer-Taylor says. “I don’t want to move. That’s how much I like living where I live. And the taxes are good.”
Foodies find anything from tacos to mochi doughnuts
Several eateries are in the Kalamazoo River area, or what the township calls its downtown. The desserts at Bert’s Bakery include brownies, baklava and cakes. Nearby, Valentina’s Mexican Grill Comstock serves street-style tacos and other Tex-Mex fare. The Gull Road commercial corridor farther north has more options. Bangkok Flavor serves Thai cuisine, while many enjoy classic American breakfasts at The Rooster’s Call. Mochinut Kalamazoo has an assortment of mochi doughnuts. Grocery stores here include Meijer.
Employers include Bell’s Brewery, which is well-known for its Hearted IPA brands. The brewery frequently hosts tours of its Comstock location, one of two in Michigan. The township also has an industrial district with various manufacturing, logistics and equipment supply plants.
The Kalamazoo River Valley Trail is a biking destination
Merrill Park is located off the banks of the Kalamazoo River. The park has some tree-shaded areas, a playground and a couple of basketball courts. Visitors here will encounter waterfowl and see a memorial with a mural, a classic fire engine and a bronze firefighter statue. The more than 20-mile-long Kalamazoo River Valley Trail passes through here, giving bikers a path toward downtown Kalamazoo. The paved path passes through natural areas consisting of flower patches, tall grasses and mature trees. The Kalamazoo River flows into the 920-acre Morrow Lake, a popular boating and fishing site. The Hickory Ridge Golf Course & Driving Range offers 27 holes of play on a tree-lined landscape.
Comstock STEM lets eighth graders get high school credits
Three school districts serve the township, including Comstock Public Schools, which gets a C from Niche. Students may start at Comstock Elementary School, which also gets a C. Comstock Middle School gets a C-minus, while Comstock High School receives a C-plus. The district also has the Comstock STEM Academy, which gets a B-plus from Niche and covers kindergarten to eighth grade. The academy gives its eighth graders the chance to earn high school credits. Comstock STEM also placed in the top four in a recent Michigan Science Olympiad regional tournament.
Merrill Park hosts Fall Fest and the Farmers Market
Comstock’s Fall Festival brings vendors and live music to Merrill Park in September. Children at the event enjoy getting their faces painted and jumping in the bounce house. The park also hosts the weekly Farmers Market from June to September. In addition to its local produce, the market occasionally features live music. “The Farmers Market is something new they’re doing to bring more people downtown,” Dyer-Taylor says about how the market started in 2024.
Commuters take King Highway to downtown Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo’s Metro system has several bus stops in the community. Commuters who drive may take King Highway, or M-96, to downtown Kalamazoo, 4 miles west. Downtown Kalamazoo has the Bronson Methodist Hospital. Interstate 94 also passes through the township and goes toward the communities west of Kalamazoo, including the ones along Lake Michigan. Comstock is 10 minutes from the Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport, the region’s hub for commercial flights.
Newcomers to the area should prepare for some frigid winter weather as the region experiences lake-effect snowfall. The area also occasionally receives severe storms and straight-line winds.
