Residential comparison · 13 facts
East Lansing, MI vs Midland, 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 $82,000 in Midland to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Midland, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $88,000 in East Lansing.
A few differences
- Midland is higher on median household income ($73,325 vs $45,687).
- Midland is lower on cost of living index (82 vs 89).
- Midland is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,077/mo vs $1,329/mo).
East Lansing vs Midland · facet by facet
| Facet | East Lansing, MI | Midland, MI |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $270,800 | $203,900 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,329/mo | $1,077/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 | 82 |
| Groceries index | 95 | 95 |
| Utilities | $175/mo | $175/mo |
| Median household income | $45,687 | $73,325 |
| 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 · Midland, MI
Questions & answers
- Is East Lansing cheaper than Midland?
- Midland has the lower day-to-day cost index (82 vs 89 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Midland equals $85,000 in East Lansing?
- A household earning $85,000 in East Lansing needs about $82,000 in Midland to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Midland lifestyle costs about $88,000 in East Lansing.