Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Lansing, MI
🏆 Denton leads 13 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,921 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262 ✓ Larger
Lansing
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,747
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denton, TX
Pros
85% less violent crime than Lansing
Households earn $21,174 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Lansing
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $184k less ($112,200 vs $296,100)
Rent averages $310/mo less ($954 vs $1,264)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Denton
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Denton by $21,174/yr
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Median Income
$21,174
$71,921 vs $50,747/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
85% lower
204.2 vs 1345.1 per 100k
Denton
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 8.3% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 82.8°F
Lansing
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Lansing
Median Home Value
$184k less
$112,200 vs $296,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 | $112,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 | $954 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 ✓ Higher | $50,747 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 260⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 29.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Lansing Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F ✓ Warmer | 30.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 50.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 ✓ Larger | 112,986 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lansing's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Lansing is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 13 of 23 categories. Denton wins 13 and Lansing wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Denton to Lansing or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $112,200 median home), income ($71,921 vs $50,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Lansing, MI are about 947 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.