Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kenosha, WI
VS
Lansing, MI
🏆 Kenosha leads 14 of 23 categories
Kenosha
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,963 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
Lansing
Michigan
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,747
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kenosha, WI
Pros
79% less violent crime than Lansing
Households earn $14,216 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.4%)
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Lansing
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $82k less ($112,200 vs $194,400)
Rent averages $125/mo less ($954 vs $1,079)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Kenosha
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kenosha by $14,216/yr
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kenosha
Median Income
$14,216
$64,963 vs $50,747/yr
Kenosha
Violent Crime
79% lower
285.7 vs 1345.1 per 100k
Kenosha
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.3% unemployment
Lansing
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Lansing
Median Home Value
$82k less
$112,200 vs $194,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kenosha, WI | Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $194,400 | $112,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,079 | $954 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,963 ✓ Higher | $50,747 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 ✓ Safer | 260⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% | 29.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kenosha School District | Lansing Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.3°F ✓ Warmer | 30.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.2" ✓ Less | 50.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,493 | 112,986 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenosha's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Lansing's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Lansing is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kenosha leads 14 of 23 categories. Kenosha wins 14 and Lansing wins 9. 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 Kenosha to Lansing or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($194,400 vs $112,200 median home), income ($64,963 vs $50,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kenosha, WI and Lansing, MI are about 169 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.