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Living in
Lansing.
About
Life in Lansing
The cost of living is genuinely affordable compared to Michigan's bigger metros: median home values hover around $128,700, rent averages under $1,000 a month, and that median household income of $54,382 tends to stretch further here than it would elsewhere. You'll notice the city has real neighborhood character—the Eastside is the most ethnically diverse with a strong foreign-born population, Old Town has historic architecture dating back to the mid-19th century, and downtown has been investing in new restaurants and residential development, though it still feels like a work-in-progress compared to other state capitals. Weather is a genuine consideration: winters are cold with about 51 inches of snow annually (November through April), summers get humid and warm with occasional days hitting 90 degrees, so you need to be okay with all four seasons hitting hard.
Lansing at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
20.1%
Foreign-Born
9.8%
Broadband Internet
89.4%
of households
Population Growth
+1.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.8% 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 (9.5%), and 5.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.6%
of residents
65 and Older
13.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
43.0%
of households
Married Couples
28.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.17
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 12% below MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Lansing
In Lansing, rent runs 12% below the MI average, and home values are 44% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,716
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
53.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1959
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $166,379 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.2 pts above MI average
Unemployment in Lansing
Unemployment in Lansing is 1.2 percentage points higher than the MI 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
Commute18.9 min avg
How Lansing residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lansing, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 86% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Capital Region International Airport (LAN)
Regional airport · few flights117k passengers boarded in 2025
- 71 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 306% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lansing runs 306% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,337.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,112.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
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 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 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
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
34.3"
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" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lansing
Lansing has 2 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
6.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Mclaren Greater Lansing
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Edward W Sparrow Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Brightwell Behavioral Health
Psychiatric · 4.9 mi away · East 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.
Education18.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lansing
Lansing's student/teacher ratio is 18.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 30.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
29
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
30.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Lansing
Public · 2-year · 8,207 students · in-state tuition $4,100 · 19% graduate · median earnings $44,318 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 40,922 students · in-state tuition $17,256 · 82% graduate · median earnings $74,168 (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, 82 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lansing
Lansing has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being River Raisin National Battlefield Park (82 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
82 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lansing
Capital Area District Library
401 South Capitol Avenue, Lansing
Foster Branch Library
200 North Foster Avenue, Lansing
South Lansing Branch Library
3500 South Cedar Street, 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, Michigan affordable?⌄
Lansing's median rent is $993/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $54,382/year. Median home value is $128,700.
Is Lansing, Michigan safe?⌄
Lansing's violent crime rate was 1337 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2113 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lansing, Michigan?⌄
Lansing has an unemployment rate of 6.4%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lansing, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Lansing is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $993/month and median household income is $54,382/year. The median home value is $128,700. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lansing, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Lansing is 19 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