Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Detroit, MI
VS
Lansing, MI
🏆 Lansing leads 14 of 23 categories
Detroit
Michigan
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$37,761
Violent Crime Index
469⚠ High
Population
636,787 ✓ Larger
Lansing
Michigan
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
112,986
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Detroit, MI
Pros
Homes cost $46k less ($66,700 vs $112,200)
Cons
Median income trails Lansing by $12,986/yr
Violent crime (1781.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4305.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (14.7% vs 8.3%)
Lansing, MI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.4 pts lower (8.3%)
24% less violent crime than Detroit
Households earn $12,986 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 29.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
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
Snowy winters — about 50" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Detroit
Median Home Value
$46k less
$66,700 vs $112,200
Lansing
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Lansing
Median Income
$12,986
$50,747 vs $37,761/yr
Lansing
Violent Crime
24% lower
1345.1 vs 1781.3 per 100k
Lansing
Unemployment
6.4 pp lower
8.3% vs 14.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Detroit, MI | Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $66,700 ✓ Lower | $112,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $989 | $954 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,761 | $50,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 14.7%⚠ High | 8.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 260⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 469⚠ High | 354⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 205⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | C+ (85) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.9% | 29.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Detroit Public Schools Community District | Lansing Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.0°F ✓ Warmer | 30.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.9" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" ✓ Less | 50.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 636,787 ✓ Larger | 112,986 |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Detroit's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Lansing's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Lansing is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lansing leads 14 of 23 categories. Detroit wins 9 and Lansing wins 14. 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 Detroit to Lansing or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($66,700 vs $112,200 median home), income ($37,761 vs $50,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Detroit, MI and Lansing, MI are about 78 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.