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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

East Lansing

Michigan · 46,525 residents · 13.431 sq mi
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The short version

East Lansing has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $28,217. Population has declined 8% since 1990. 70% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 24%. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $144,100. At a median age of 21.7, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 37% less than the Michigan median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 21.7
US median: 35.2
More educated
70% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
46,525
−8%since 1990
from 50,677 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
21.7
Unchangedsince 1990
from 21.7 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
45K46K48K50K51K1990201020202024East Lansing
202446K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 52.5%(1,186)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 92.4%(1,126)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 142.5%(1,166)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 1921.9%(10,186)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 2438.3%(17,809)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.6%(4,912)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 445.8%(2,710)
US avg: 16%
45 to 546.2%(2,887)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 643.7%(1,730)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 742.5%(1,157)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 842.2%(1,038)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.3%(618)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$28,217
−13%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $24,716 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$16,333
+46%since 1990
from $11,212 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
34.8%
+1.1 ptssince 1990
from 33.8% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$144,100
+14%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $95,700 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$578
−3%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $451 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
32.0%
−1.1 ptssince 1990
from 33.1% in 1990
68.0% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in East Lansing on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic84.5%(42,821)
Black6.7%(3,406)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(1,193)
Asian7.1%(3,591)
2000
White, non-Hispanic79.4%(36,919)
Black7.3%(3,410)
Hispanic / Latino2.7%(1,252)
Asian8.2%(3,814)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican3.8%(1,728)
Puerto Rican1.1%(491)
Argentine0.3%(154)
Cuban0.2%(108)
Peruvian0.2%(89)
Spaniard0.2%(75)
Guatemalan0.2%(69)
Ecuadorian0.1%(63)
Venezuelan0.1%(47)
Paraguayan0.1%(26)
+ 6 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Chinese4.2%(1,933)
Asian Indian2.2%(1,015)
Korean0.8%(380)
Filipino0.3%(132)
Pakistani0.2%(114)
Vietnamese0.2%(113)
Japanese0.2%(77)
Taiwanese0.1%(60)
Malaysian0.1%(43)
Nepalese0.1%(42)
Indonesian0.1%(27)
Thai0%(13)
+ 2 more asian origin groups with data
Hmong0%(12)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0%(13)
Ancestry
German14.3%(6,531)
English9.1%(4,171)
Irish8.7%(4,001)
Polish6.6%(3,005)
Italian5.3%(2,406)
Dutch3.4%(1,560)
Swedish1.8%(828)
American1.7%(774)
Scottish1.7%(768)
Arab1.6%(736)
French1.4%(641)
+ 45 more ancestry groups with data
British0.9%(402)
Norwegian0.8%(382)
Greek0.8%(375)
Russian0.8%(345)
Hungarian0.5%(251)
Welsh0.5%(238)
Czech0.5%(207)
Austrian0.4%(205)
Egyptian0.4%(203)
Canadian0.4%(203)
Ukrainian0.4%(196)
Nigerian0.4%(185)
Iranian0.4%(174)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(173)
Danish0.4%(171)
Lithuanian0.3%(145)
Lebanese0.3%(144)
Brazilian0.3%(143)
Swiss0.3%(135)
Serbian0.3%(131)
Somali0.2%(103)
Turkish0.2%(93)
Iraqi0.2%(90)
Slovak0.2%(90)
Finnish0.2%(86)
Croatian0.2%(85)
Romanian0.2%(78)
Armenian0.1%(64)
West Indian0.1%(64)
Bulgarian0.1%(63)
Ethiopian0.1%(52)
Australian0.1%(46)
Jordanian0.1%(45)
Portuguese0.1%(39)
Jamaican0.1%(34)
Slovene0.1%(25)
Ghanaian0%(19)
Israeli0%(18)
Moroccan0%(11)
Latvian0%(11)
Kenyan0%(10)
Haitian0%(9)
Syrian0%(8)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Polish population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
70.4%
−0.8 ptssince 1990
from 71.2% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
96.9%
+0.3 ptssince 1990
from 96.6% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
39.2%
−0.4 ptssince 1990
from 39.6% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
10.5 min
−27%since 1990
from 14.3 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married69.7%(14,394)
Married25.7%(5,314)
Widowed0.9%(184)
Divorced3.7%(756)
Women 15+
Never married66.6%(15,090)
Married24.5%(5,540)
Widowed4.2%(955)
Divorced4.7%(1,063)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
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Head to head

Compare East Lansing to nearby cities

EAST LANSING VS
Haslett
Income$74,031+162%
Home value$286,100+99%
Population18,559−62%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EAST LANSING VS
Okemos
Income$102,612+264%
Home value$359,200+149%
Population26,396−47%
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EAST LANSING VS
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Income$54,382+93%
Home value$128,700−11%
Population113,884+131%
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EAST LANSING VS
Waverly
Income$75,700+168%
Home value$234,600+63%
Population23,575−52%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in East Lansing, Michigan?

East Lansing, Michigan has about 46,525 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in East Lansing, Michigan?

The typical household in East Lansing, Michigan earns about $28,217 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is East Lansing, Michigan expensive?

In East Lansing, Michigan, the median home is worth about $144,100, and the typical rent is about $578 a month.

How educated are people in East Lansing, Michigan?

About 70.4% of adults age 25 and over in East Lansing, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in East Lansing, Michigan?

About 34.8% of people in East Lansing, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has East Lansing, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, East Lansing, Michigan has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 4,152 residents, a change of about -8 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

East Lansing, Michigan (2000): demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy