East Lansing, MI
Census place 2624120 · pop 45,758
Home of Michigan State University, the pioneering land-grant college founded in 1855.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
25.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.58 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
33.0% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
38.5% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-6.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$45,687 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
2.07% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
88.5% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
4.0% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
1458 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
209 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$270,800 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
12.4% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
23.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities
32.6% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
8.1% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities
38 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
65/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities
0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,179/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
16 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
66.6% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Frequently asked
- Is East Lansing, MI a good place to live?
- By the numbers, East Lansing scores 49/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is bachelor's degree or higher and its weakest is poor mental health. Michigan overall ranks #42 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is East Lansing, MI?
- East Lansing reports 209 violent crimes per 100k and 1458 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is East Lansing, MI expensive to live in?
- East Lansing has a median home value of $270,800 and typical rent around $1,179/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in East Lansing, MI?
- Its weakest measured area is poor mental health (25.1%) — 0/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is East Lansing, MI best at?
- Its strongest measured area is bachelor's degree or higher (66.6%) — 94/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Home of Michigan State University, the pioneering land-grant college founded in 1855.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.