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Living in
East Lansing.
About
Life in East Lansing
If you're considering East Lansing, understand upfront that this is a college town through and through—roughly half the population turns over every four years as students graduate and new cohorts arrive. That shapes everything from the rental market (median rent $1,171/month) to neighborhood character to the social scene. Housing is relatively affordable compared to many college towns, with median home values around $270,800.
East Lansing at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
21.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
33.0%
Foreign-Born
11.5%
Broadband Internet
88.5%
of households
Population Growth
+2.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.5% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in East Lansing: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In East Lansing, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (24.7%), and 3.5% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
9.2%
of residents
65 and Older
9.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
15.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.0%
of households
Married Couples
26.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.18
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 MI
Rent, home values, and income in East Lansing
In East Lansing, home values are 17% above the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
68.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
50.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,599
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
38.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1975
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $316,930 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MI
Unemployment in East Lansing
Unemployment in East Lansing is close to the MI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What East Lansing Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.2 min avg
How East Lansing residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In East Lansing, most residents drive alone to work (48%), and 87% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Capital Region International Airport (LAN)
Regional airport · few flights117k passengers boarded in 2025
- 67 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M 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 34% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in East Lansing runs 34% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
216.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,264.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
East Lansing Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
87.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Ingham County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Ingham County, which includes East Lansing, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 6 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 4 | Hail | $375,000 |
| 2023 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $110.2M |
| 2022 | 6 | Winter Storm | $85,000 |
| 2021 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $70,000 |
| 2020 | 2 | Thunderstorm Wind | $125,000 |
| 2019 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.0M |
| 2018 | 2 | Winter Storm | $100,000 |
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.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Ingham County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Ingham County, which includes East Lansing, is typically good — 265 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
265
per year
Moderate Days
92
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Ingham County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
East Lansing has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
34.6"
Annual Snowfall
36.0"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
145
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
127
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 18°F | 2.08" |
| Feb | 34°F | 19°F | 1.60" |
| Mar | 45°F | 27°F | 1.68" |
| Apr | 58°F | 37°F | 3.55" |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 4.36" |
| Jun | 79°F | 58°F | 3.79" |
| Jul | 83°F | 61°F | 3.37" |
| Aug | 81°F | 60°F | 3.45" |
| Sep | 76°F | 52°F | 3.17" |
| Oct | 62°F | 42°F | 3.12" |
| Nov | 48°F | 32°F | 2.55" |
| Dec | 37°F | 24°F | 1.60" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in East Lansing
East Lansing has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.5%
of residents
Brightwell Behavioral Health
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Edward W Sparrow Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.8 mi away · Lansing
Mclaren Greater Lansing
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.3 mi away · Lansing
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.
Education17.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in East Lansing
East Lansing's student/teacher ratio is 17.0:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 66.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
66.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in East Lansing
Public · 4-year · 40,922 students · in-state tuition $17,256 · 82% graduate · median earnings $74,168 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 8,207 students · in-state tuition $4,100 · 19% graduate · median earnings $44,318 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 197 students · in-state tuition $19,920 · 30% graduate · median earnings $36,738 (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: River Raisin National Battlefield Park, 81 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for East Lansing
East Lansing has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being River Raisin National Battlefield Park (81 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
81 mi awayPublic Libraries in East Lansing
East Lansing Public Library
950 Abbot Road, East Lansing
Cities Near East Lansing
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to East Lansing?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
East Lansing FAQ
Is East Lansing, Michigan affordable?⌄
East Lansing's median rent is $1,171/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $45,687/year. Median home value is $270,800.
Is East Lansing, Michigan safe?⌄
East Lansing's violent crime rate was 216 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1265 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in East Lansing, Michigan?⌄
East Lansing has an unemployment rate of 5.4%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in East Lansing, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in East Lansing is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,171/month and median household income is $45,687/year. The median home value is $270,800. About 69% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in East Lansing, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in East Lansing is 16 minutes, which is shorter 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