Residential comparison · 13 facts
East Lansing, MI vs Jackson, MI
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in East Lansing needs about $80,500 in Jackson to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Jackson, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $89,500 in East Lansing.
A few differences
- East Lansing is higher on median household income ($45,687 vs $44,558).
- Jackson is lower on cost of living index (74 vs 89).
- Jackson is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($931/mo vs $1,329/mo).
East Lansing vs Jackson · facet by facet
| Facet | East Lansing, MI | Jackson, MI |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $270,800 | $103,200 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,329/mo | $931/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.35% | 1.35% |
| State & local income tax | 5.25% | 5.25% |
| Sales tax | 6% | 6% |
| Cost of living index | 89 | 74 |
| Groceries index | 95 | 95 |
| Utilities | $175/mo | $175/mo |
| Median household income | $45,687 | $44,558 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.1% |
| Crime index | 45/100 | 45/100 |
| School rating | 5.3/10 | 5.3/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 175 days | 175 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: East Lansing, MI · Jackson, MI
Questions & answers
- Is East Lansing cheaper than Jackson?
- Jackson has the lower day-to-day cost index (74 vs 89 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Jackson equals $85,000 in East Lansing?
- A household earning $85,000 in East Lansing needs about $80,500 in Jackson to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Jackson lifestyle costs about $89,500 in East Lansing.