Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lansing, MI
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 St. Louis 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 ✓ Safer
Population
112,986
St. Louis
Missouri
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$52,941 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $62k less ($112,200 vs $174,100)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Louis
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 5.4%)
Snowy winters — about 50" of snow per year
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 31°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Lansing
Key Differences at a Glance
Lansing
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Lansing
Violent Crime
2% lower
1345.1 vs 1367.1 per 100k
Lansing
Median Home Value
$62k less
$112,200 vs $174,100
St. Louis
Median Income
$2,194
$52,941 vs $50,747/yr
St. Louis
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.3% unemployment
St. Louis
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lansing, MI | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $112,200 ✓ Lower | $174,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $954 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,747 | $52,941 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 260⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.3% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lansing Public School District | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.6°F | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.2" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 112,986 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lansing's cost of living index is 92.8 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Lansing is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Louis leads 13 of 23 categories. Lansing wins 10 and St. Louis 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,200 vs $174,100 median home), income ($50,747 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lansing, MI and St. Louis, MO are about 410 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.