The Town FilesLansing, Michigan
City in Ingham County · population 112,644 (2020 Census) · spans 3 counties
- Median home
- $128,700
- Household income
- $54,382
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 33.7
Lansing is a city of 112,644 people in Ingham County, Michigan. The median home is worth $128,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 99% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 97% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 96% of Michigan towns.
How Lansing ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lansing is worth $128,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $54,382, which is more affordable than 80% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $993 a month. 53.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lansing | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $128,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $993 | $955 |
| Median household income | $54,382 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 53.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Lansing
| People | Lansing | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.8% | — |
| Work from home | 14.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Lansing
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 17.2°F. About 33.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lansing since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 14, 1988 about 4.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 3 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 25, 1998.
Severe weather in Ingham County since 1996
Ingham County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Ingham County
Ingham County had 155,500 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,532 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Lansing itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Public schools in Lansing
23 public schools with 8,295 students, about 17.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everett High School | 8-12 | 1,090 | 19.5 |
| Eastern High School | 8-12 | 901 | 21.0 |
| Gardner International School | K-8 | 898 | 19.5 |
| Pattengill School | PK-8 | 633 | 16.7 |
| Dwight Rich School of the Arts | K-8 | 627 | 16.9 |
| Lansing Charter Academy (charter) | K-8 | 467 | 19.5 |
| Attwood School | K-8 | 462 | 21.0 |
| Post Oak School | PK-8 | 383 | 16.7 |
| North School | K-8 | 359 | 16.3 |
| Wexford Montessori Magnet School | PK-8 | 343 | 18.1 |
| Cavanaugh School | PK-3 | 271 | 15.9 |
| Forest View School | PK-4 | 265 | 13.3 |
Towns near Lansing
- Lansing, MI2.1 mi · 8,143 people · home $146,200
- Waverly, MI4.1 mi · 23,812 people · home $234,600
- East Lansing, MI4.6 mi · 47,741 people · home $270,800
- Delta, MI5.2 mi · 33,119 people · home $252,700
- Holt, MI5.2 mi · 25,625 people · home $226,400
- Delhi, MI6.3 mi · 27,710 people · home $233,800
- DeWitt, MI7.1 mi · 15,073 people · home $276,000
- Meridian, MI7.2 mi · 43,916 people · home $331,100
Lansing questions
Is Lansing, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lansing scores better for retirees than 3% of Michigan towns and quieter than 1%. 13.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.7).
How much does a house cost in Lansing?
The median owner-occupied home in Lansing is valued at $128,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,382, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $993 a month.
What is the weather like in Lansing?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 17.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.3 inches of precipitation a year and 50.2 inches of snow.
Does Lansing get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lansing since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 14, 1988. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)