Jackson vs Lansing
Jackson, Michigan versus Lansing, Michigan: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Jackson edges out Lansing on overall objective livability (55 vs 47 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Jackson | Lansing |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $42k | $51k |
| Cost of Living | $43k | $43k |
| Home Value | $88k | $112k |
| Monthly Rent | $838 | $954 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $949 | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.77% | 2.20% |
| Income Tax | 5.30% | 5.30% |
| Sales Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 11.00% | 12.15% |
| Unemployment | 10.9% | 8.3% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 24°F | 24°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 72°F | 72°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.3 in | 33.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4 in | 50.2 in |
| Sunny Days | 251 days | 171 days |
| Summer Humidity | 61°F | 60°F |
| Comfortable Days | 97 days | 98 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 18.3 | 48.2 |
| Air Quality | 51 AQI | 56 AQI |
| School Quality | 86.4 | 76.4 |
| Violent Crime | 4493/100k | 2718/100k |
| Property Crime | 3560/100k | 2705/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 31,420 | 112,986 |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 32.9 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.49 | 0.59 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.91 | 0.97 |
| Political Leaning | R+19 | D+33 |
| White (%) | 65.4% | 52.6% |
| Black (%) | 20.2% | 23.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 6.3% | 12.5% |
| Asian (%) | 0.5% | 4.9% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 7.6% | 6.9% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 17 min | 19 min |
| Walkability | 8.6/20 | 13.6/20 |
| Airport Distance | 53 mi | 50 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 89.5% | 87.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 35.01 | 40.27 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Jackson or Lansing more affordable?
- Jackson has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Jackson's $43k and Lansing's $43k. Median rent is $838 in Jackson versus $954 in Lansing.
- Is Jackson or Lansing safer?
- Lansing has the lower violent crime rate. Jackson reports 4493/100k and Lansing reports 2718/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Jackson or Lansing?
- The median home value is $88k in Jackson and $112k in Lansing, so homes are more affordable in Jackson.