Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lansing, MI
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach leads 15 of 23 categories
Lansing
Michigan
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,747
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986
West Palm Beach
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $213k less ($112,200 vs $324,800)
Rent averages $660/mo less ($954 vs $1,614)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $13,297/yr
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 6.2%)
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
57% less violent crime than Lansing
Households earn $13,297 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (6.2%)
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Lansing
Key Differences at a Glance
Lansing
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Lansing
Median Home Value
$213k less
$112,200 vs $324,800
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$13,297
$64,044 vs $50,747/yr
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
57% lower
575.8 vs 1345.1 per 100k
West Palm Beach
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.3% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lansing, MI | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,200 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $954 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,747 | $64,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 260⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.3% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lansing Public School District | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.6°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 112,986 | 117,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lansing's cost of living index is 92.8 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Lansing is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 15 of 23 categories. Lansing wins 8 and West Palm Beach wins 15. 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,200 vs $324,800 median home), income ($50,747 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lansing, MI and West Palm Beach, FL are about 1,131 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.