Income & Economy in East Lansing, MI
Household income, poverty rates, employment, and economic data — 2023 ACS Data
Income Overview
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)Median Household Income
$43,547
-41% vs national
Per Capita Income
$29,162
-22% vs national
Poverty Rate
34.1%
+151% vs national
Gini Index
0.5920
0 = perfect equality
Unemployment
6.9%
+32% vs national
SNAP Recipients
4.6%
of households
How East Lansing Compares
Source: Census ACS (2023)East Lansing vs Similar Cities
Source: Census ACS (2023)Compared to cities with 50,000 - 100,000 residents. East Lansing is highlighted.
Median Household Income
Per Capita Income
Poverty Rate
Unemployment Rate
Where Do You Stack Up?
Enter your household income to see how you compare to other households in East Lansing. The median household income here is $43,547.
Income Distribution
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)Employment Snapshot
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)Unemployment Rate
6.9%
+23% vs MI avg
Labor Force
23,173
Employed
21,540
Mean Commute
14 min
How People Get to Work
Source: Census ACS (2023)Employment by Sector
Source: Census ACS (2023)Education & Workforce
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)Bachelor's Degree+
21.5%
of adults 25+
High School Diploma+
25.4%
of adults 25+
Median Age
21.3
Work from Home
18.9%
of workers
The median household income in East Lansing, MI is $43,547, which is 40.5% below the national average of $73,224. Per capita income is $29,162. The poverty rate of 34.1% is higher than the MI state average of 14.1%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.5920, where 0 represents perfect equality and 1 represents maximum inequality. The unemployment rate is 6.9%, compared to the state average of 5.6%. 21.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The average commute time is 14 minutes, with 18.9% working from home.