East Lansing, Michigan Income Statistics
East Lansing Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
F
East Lansing Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | East Lansing | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $44,970 | $72,977 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $57,586 | $59,920 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.5% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.8% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.6% | 9.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in East Lansing is about 38% lower than in Michigan. Income has been growing slower in East Lansing (3.5%/yr) than in Michigan (4.6%/yr).
About 7% of adults in East Lansing earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Michigan average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in East Lansing, Michigan grew by 48.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $44,970 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in East Lansing
| Metric | East Lansing | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.661 | 0.539 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $63,910 | $69,354 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $53,550 | $54,749 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 16.2% | 21.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In East Lansing, it is 0.661, higher than Michigan's 0.539, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 19% more than women's income in East Lansing, Michigan. Over a 35-year career, a 19% wage gap accumulates to roughly $362,600 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in East Lansing, Michigan has narrowed from about 22% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2023, and was narrowest at 9% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,657 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | East Lansing | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 19.7% | 13.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 1,458 people are unemployed in East Lansing, Michigan.
The average commute time in East Lansing is 15 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in East Lansing, Michigan has fallen from 6.6% to 6.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.4% in 2016.
East Lansing, MI Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How East Lansing, MI compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Lansing, MI | 44,400 | $44,970 #3/3 | 3.5%/yr #3/3 | 6.5% #2/3 | 0.661 #3/3 |
| Okemos, MI | 26,794 | $94,605 | 3.7%/yr | 3.1% | 0.578 |
| Lansing, MI | 106,034 | $55,428 | 4.9%/yr | 8.2% | 0.498 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, East Lansing, Michigan has an overall wealth index grade of F, making it worse than Michigan, and worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in East Lansing, Michigan.
How Wealthy Is East Lansing, Michigan?
East Lansing has a wealth index grade of F. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an F grade means residents are well below the U.S. average. The median household income is $44,970, about 38% lower than the Michigan average of $72,977.
How fast is household income rising in East Lansing, Michigan?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in East Lansing, Michigan rose 48%, from $30,324 to $44,970. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Michigan as a whole: +48% against +50%.
What was the median household income in East Lansing in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in East Lansing, Michigan was $43,371, up 1% from $42,807 in 2022. The Michigan median that year was $71,362.
What was the median household income in East Lansing in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in East Lansing, Michigan was $39,802. By 2024 it had risen 13% to $44,970.
What is the Gini coefficient in East Lansing, Michigan?
The Gini coefficient in East Lansing is 0.661. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in East Lansing, Michigan?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in East Lansing, Michigan has narrowed from about 22% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2023, and was narrowest at 9% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,657 since 2009.
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