Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Lansing, MI
🏆 Lansing leads 12 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Lansing
Michigan
12
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $36,219 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Lansing
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (7.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Lansing
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $366k less ($112,200 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $788/mo less ($954 vs $1,742)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $36,219/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 7.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$36,219
$86,966 vs $50,747/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
64% lower
489.7 vs 1345.1 per 100k
Kent
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
7.6% vs 8.3% unemployment
Lansing
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lansing
Median Home Value
$366k less
$112,200 vs $478,400
Lansing
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 82.8°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $112,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $954 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $50,747 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 260⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 29.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Lansing Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 30.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 82.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 50.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 112,986 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Lansing's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Lansing is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lansing leads 12 of 23 categories. Kent wins 11 and Lansing wins 12. 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 Kent to Lansing or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $112,200 median home), income ($86,966 vs $50,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Lansing, MI are about 1,847 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.