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Living in
Lansing.
About
Life in Lansing
This is a solidly middle-class suburb where you'll find stable, affordable housing relative to the Chicago metro—median home values around $177,000 and rents near $1,270 a month. The community skews toward families and older residents, with a median age of 40 and about a third of households raising children, which shapes the neighborhood feel. Job-wise, the unemployment rate sits at 6.0%, and most people here are working in the broader Chicago economy; expect a 33-minute commute on average if you're heading downtown or to other employment centers.
Lansing at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.0%
Foreign-Born
9.7%
Broadband Internet
93.3%
of households
Population Growth
-3.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Lansing: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lansing, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (40.6%), and 11.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.7%
of residents
65 and Older
15.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.5%
of households
Married Couples
32.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.50
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for IL
Rent, home values, and income in Lansing
In Lansing, home values are 33% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,950
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
71.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1964
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $200,872 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.4 pts above IL average
Unemployment in Lansing and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Lansing is 1.4 percentage points higher than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Lansing Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro area
Commute32.6 min avg
How Lansing residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lansing, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 46% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 19 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 34 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 16% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lansing runs 16% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
276
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,584.4
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lansing Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 55 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
100.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cook County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cook County, which includes Lansing, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 55 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 55 | Flood | $494.9M |
| 2024 | 57 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
| 2023 | 40 | Thunderstorm Wind | $550.0M |
| 2022 | 51 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.1M |
| 2021 | 47 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 38 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 36 | Flood | $20,000 |
| 2018 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $300,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cook County, county-wide
Lansing is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Cook County, which includes Lansing, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
149
per year
Moderate Days
191
per year
Unhealthy Days
5
per year
Cook County, county-wide
Lansing is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lansing has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.3"
Annual Snowfall
28.2"
Hot Days/Year
16
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
125
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
139
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 15°F | 2.49" |
| Feb | 35°F | 18°F | 2.15" |
| Mar | 46°F | 28°F | 2.65" |
| Apr | 59°F | 38°F | 4.02" |
| May | 71°F | 49°F | 4.57" |
| Jun | 80°F | 59°F | 4.91" |
| Jul | 84°F | 64°F | 4.73" |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 4.02" |
| Sep | 76°F | 55°F | 3.44" |
| Oct | 63°F | 42°F | 3.65" |
| Nov | 48°F | 31°F | 3.00" |
| Dec | 36°F | 22°F | 2.47" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lansing
Uninsured
8.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Lansing's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.2 mi away · Munster
Franciscan Health Munster
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.6 mi away · Munster
Franciscan Health Dyer
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 mi away · Dyer
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lansing
Lansing's student/teacher ratio is 16.2:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 28.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Lansing (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 5,671 students · in-state tuition $8,675 · 51% graduate · median earnings $58,620 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,096 students · in-state tuition $39,080 · 62% graduate · median earnings $64,661 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 2,661 students · in-state tuition $8,424 · 41% graduate · median earnings $48,764 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 1,384 students · in-state tuition $13,358 · 38% graduate · median earnings $48,395 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 820 students · in-state tuition $21,205 · 65% graduate · median earnings $60,507 (10 yrs after entry)
Calumet College of Saint Joseph
7.8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 529 students · in-state tuition $24,820 · 47% graduate · median earnings $50,059 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pullman National Historical Park, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lansing
Lansing has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
10 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
24 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lansing
Lansing Public Library
2750 Indiana Avenue, Lansing
Cities Near Lansing
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lansing?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lansing FAQ
Is Lansing, Illinois affordable?⌄
Lansing's median rent is $1,268/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $75,569/year. Median home value is $177,000.
Is Lansing, Illinois safe?⌄
Lansing's violent crime rate was 276 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1584 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lansing, Illinois?⌄
Lansing has an unemployment rate of 6.0%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lansing, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Lansing is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,268/month and median household income is $75,569/year. The median home value is $177,000. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lansing, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Lansing is 33 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from