Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lansing, MI
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Portsmouth leads 13 of 23 categories
Lansing
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,747
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $101k less ($112,200 vs $213,300)
Rent averages $271/mo less ($954 vs $1,225)
Commutes run 4 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)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
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
Median income trails Portsmouth by $6,407/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 6.6%)
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
44% less violent crime than Lansing
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.6%)
Households earn $6,407 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 31°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Lansing
Key Differences at a Glance
Lansing
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Lansing
Median Home Value
$101k less
$112,200 vs $213,300
Portsmouth
Median Income
$6,407
$57,154 vs $50,747/yr
Portsmouth
Violent Crime
44% lower
752.4 vs 1345.1 per 100k
Portsmouth
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.3% unemployment
Portsmouth
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lansing, MI | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $112,200 ✓ Lower | $213,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $954 ✓ Lower | $1,225 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,747 | $57,154 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 260⚠ High | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.3% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lansing Public School District | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.6°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.2" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 112,986 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lansing's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Lansing is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portsmouth leads 13 of 23 categories. Lansing wins 10 and Portsmouth wins 13. 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 Lansing to Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,200 vs $213,300 median home), income ($50,747 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lansing, MI and Portsmouth, VA are about 594 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.