United States › Michigan › East Lansing CITY · 2020 ACS
East Lansing Michigan · 47,741 residents · 13.4 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
East Lansing is home to 47,741 people in Michigan. This skews young, with a median age of 21.8. This is an unusually credentialed place: 69% of adults have a four-year degree. People stay put here: 52% were in the same home a year ago. The poverty rate is 37.9%, above the 12.8% national rate. 35% of homes are owner-occupied.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 21.8
US median: 38.8
More educated
69% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 10%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 21.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
45K 46K 48K 50K 51K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 East Lansing Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $40,800
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,217 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $16,333 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 34.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Public administration 3.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.9%
Professional, scientific, technical 1.3%
Transportation & warehousing 1.3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.3%
Education & health services 0.1%
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$194,100
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $144,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$969
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $578 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 32.0% in 2000
64.5% rent
from 2.22 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 7.1 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 79.4%(36,919)
Hispanic / Latino 2.7%(1,252)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 69.8%(33,331)
Hispanic / Latino 5.2%(2,477)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 7 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 6 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 44 more ancestry groups with data from 70.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 96.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 39.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 55.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 6.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 51.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 40.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 6.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 75.8%(15,333)
Women 15+
Never married 74.6%(16,485)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 6.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 8.6%(79)
Share of the 919 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to East Lansing Head to head
Compare East Lansing to nearby cities EAST LANSING VS
Haslett
Income $74,031 +81%
Home value $286,100 +47%
Population 18,559 −62%
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EAST LANSING VS
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Home value $359,200 +85%
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EAST LANSING VS
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Income $54,382 +33%
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EAST LANSING VS
Waverly
Income $75,700 +86%
Home value $234,600 +21%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in East Lansing, Michigan? East Lansing, Michigan has about 47,741 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in East Lansing, Michigan? The typical household in East Lansing, Michigan earns about $40,800 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 $194,100, and the typical rent is about $969 a month.
How educated are people in East Lansing, Michigan? About 69.4% 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 37.9% 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 2,936 residents, a change of about -6 percent over that period.
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