East Lansing, Michigan
Among the top 3% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 28% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 47% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 36% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A+, better than 97% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 45% of US places
- top 2% for walkability
- top 4% for commute time
- bottom 6% for property tax rate
East Lansing is a mid-size city in Michigan with about 45,000 residents. It grades A+ for getting around and C for affordability. Standout strengths include walkability, commute time, and natural disaster risk. It rates lower on sunny days and property tax rate.
Official websitecityofeastlansing.com (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
freez.
very cold
cool
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warm
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cool
cold
v.cold
60%29%clearovercast
Precipitation 3.5 in2.0 in
humid 69%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$44k18th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$43kbetter than 77% of US places
Home Value$241k69th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 35% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 27% of US places
Property Tax Rate2.24%better than 6% of US places
Income Tax5.30%better than 42% of US places
State 4.30% + Local 1.00%
Sales Tax6.00%better than 86% of US places
Estimated total tax burden19.49%better than 8% of US places
Unemployment6.7%better than 27% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)24°F19th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)72°F22nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation34.6 in30th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall36.0 inbetter than 26% of US places
Sunny Days171 daysbetter than 7% of US places
Summer Humidity60°Fbetter than 71% of US places
Comfortable Days98 daysbetter than 84% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk34.4better than 87% of US places
Air Quality52 AQIbetter than 14% of US places
School Quality61.3better than 55% of US places
Violent Crime870/100kbetter than 42% of US places
Property Crime1779/100kbetter than 24% of US places
Community
Population45,40397th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age21.42nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.4174th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9746th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+338th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)73.6%34th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)7.2%80th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)5.5%59th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)9.1%95th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)4.6%68th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time16 minbetter than 96% of US places
Walkability14.3/20better than 98% of US places
Airport Distance54 mibetter than 65% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access87.7%better than 56% of US places
Amenities Nearby90.52better than 53% of US places
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 39% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is East Lansing an affordable place to live?
- East Lansing is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $43k, better than 77% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in East Lansing?
- The median home value in East Lansing is $241k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in East Lansing?
- Median household income in East Lansing is $44k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in East Lansing?
- Median gross rent in East Lansing is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is East Lansing safe?
- East Lansing is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 870/100k (better than 42%). Property crime is 1779/100k.
- What is the weather like in East Lansing?
- East Lansing averages 72°F in July and 24°F in January, with 34.6 in of annual precipitation and about 171 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in East Lansing?
- Public-school quality in East Lansing is about average, scoring better than 55% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in East Lansing?
- The average one-way commute in East Lansing is 16 min.
Other places in Ingham County
Places near East Lansing
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Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)