Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lansing, MI
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Roanoke leads 13 of 23 categories
Lansing
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$50,747
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $50k less ($112,200 vs $162,000)
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
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 6.6%)
Snowy winters — about 50" of snow per year
Roanoke, VA
Pros
54% less violent crime than Lansing
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lansing
Median Home Value
$50k less
$112,200 vs $162,000
Roanoke
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Income
$776
$51,523 vs $50,747/yr
Roanoke
Violent Crime
54% lower
620.4 vs 1345.1 per 100k
Roanoke
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.3% unemployment
Roanoke
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lansing, MI | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $112,200 ✓ Lower | $162,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $954 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,747 | $51,523 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 20.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 260⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.3% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lansing Public School District | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.6°F | 47.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.2" | 14.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 112,986 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 22.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lansing's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 13 of 23 categories. Lansing wins 10 and Roanoke 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,200 vs $162,000 median home), income ($50,747 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lansing, MI and Roanoke, VA are about 448 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.