In East Lansing, a typical home is worth $270,800 and typical rent is $1,171 a month. Compared with all of Ingham County, the typical home value is 36% higher, typical household income is 30% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 21 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $243,203 to $316,930.
Typical rent
$1,847a month
▲ 4.5% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, March 2024 to September 2026: from $1,643 to $1,847.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
East Lansing is in Ingham County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Ingham County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
East Lansing has the 3rd largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 168 cities in Michigan with more than 5,000 people (72%).
2
East Lansing has the 5th lowest homeownership rate of the 179 cities in Michigan with more than 5,000 people (39%).
3
Nearby, in Lansing, the typical home value is $128,700: 52% less than in East Lansing ($270,800).
4
The typical home in East Lansing is worth $270,800,36% more than in Ingham County as a whole ($198,800).
5
The typical household income in East Lansing is $45,687,30% less than in Ingham County as a whole ($65,526).
6
Nearby, in Lansing, the typical rent is $993: 15% less than in East Lansing ($1,171).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in East Lansing
What homes there are in East Lansing, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
East Lansing
Ingham County
Michigan
United States
Kind of home: East Lansing and its comparisons
Measure
East Lansing
Ingham County
Michigan
United States
Detached house
36%
61%
72%
61%
Attached house
7%
5%
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
6%
6%
5%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
51%
26%
13%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
3%
5%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
Many people here live in apartments: 5 in 10 homes; in Ingham County, 3.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
East Lansing
Ingham County
Michigan
United States
Year built: East Lansing and its comparisons
Measure
East Lansing
Ingham County
Michigan
United States
Before 1960
28%
36%
36%
26%
1960–1979
32%
29%
26%
24%
1980–1999
20%
20%
22%
25%
2000–2009
11%
9%
10%
14%
2010 or later
10%
6%
6%
11%
The typical home in East Lansing was built in 1975, 4 years after the typical one in Ingham County.
Homes in East Lansing are smaller: 44% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Ingham County, 55%.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200K21%
$200K–$300K37%
$300K–$500K31%
$500K–$750K7%
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: East Lansing and its comparisons
Measure
East Lansing
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
21%
$200K–$300K
37%
$300K–$500K
31%
$500K–$750K
7%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99932%
$1,000–$1,49938%
$1,500–$1,99918%
$2,000–$2,4998%
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: East Lansing and its comparisons
Measure
East Lansing
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
32%
$1,000–$1,499
38%
$1,500–$1,999
18%
$2,000–$2,499
8%
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$1,940 a month
Ingham County: $1,501 a month
Without a mortgage
$907 a month
Ingham County: $686 a month
Owners with a mortgage
59%
Ingham County: 63%
In East Lansing, 59% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,940 a month, against $1,501 in Ingham County. Without one it drops to $907.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
East Lansing+41%
Ingham County+47%
Michigan+50%
United States+53%
Typical rent
East Lansing+23%
Ingham County+24%
Michigan+30%
United States+33%
Typical household income
East Lansing+15%
Ingham County+24%
Michigan+28%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: East Lansing and its comparisons
Measure
East Lansing
Ingham County
Michigan
United States
Typical home value
+41%
+47%
+50%
+53%
Typical rent
+23%
+24%
+30%
+33%
Typical household income
+15%
+24%
+28%
+29%
The typical home value in East Lansing rose 41% since 2015–2019, less than in Ingham County (47%).
Rents in East Lansing rose at about the same pace as in Ingham County: 23% since 2015–2019, against 24%.
Housing prices ran ahead of income in East Lansing: typical income rose 15%, against +41% for home values and +23% for rent.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: East Lansing and its comparisons
Measure
East Lansing
Ingham County
Michigan
United States
Rental vacancy
8.8%
5.6%
5.1%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
1.3%
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
1.6%
1.6%
3.4%
People per household
2.18
2.27
2.42
2.53
Drive alone
48%
66%
74%
69%
Carpool
5%
8%
8%
9%
Public transit
5%
2%
1%
3%
Walk or bike
21%
5%
2%
3%
Work from home
21%
17%
14%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
The rental vacancy rate in East Lansing is 8.8%, higher than in Ingham County (5.6%).
A household in East Lansing has 2.18 people on average, about the same as in Ingham County (2.27).
Many here get to work on foot or by bike: 21%, more than in Ingham County (5%).
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in East Lansing?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in East Lansing, worth $270,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 66% of the typical household income in East Lansing, which is $45,687 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $107,186 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Ingham County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in East Lansing. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $9,478 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$2,501
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$265,895
Total interest
$382,561
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $4,573 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,066 a month
Tight
$1,066 to $1,371 a month
Hard
more than $1,371 a month
Your payment · 66%
Compared with the typical household income in East Lansing ($45,687 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,801
Property tax
$467
Home insurance
$113
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$120
You need at least $9,478 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $2,501; principal and interest $1,801.
The city and its county
East Lansing and Ingham County
East Lansing is in Ingham County, Michigan. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
East Lansing
Map of Ingham County, Michigan, with East Lansing marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
East Lansing
Ingham County
Other cities with a page
East Lansing's own numbers
Typical home value
$270,800
Typical monthly rent
$1,171
Typical yearly household income
$45,687
Households that own their home
39%
Effective property tax rate
2.07%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Ingham County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,323
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+49%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.9%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Ingham County.
A typical home in East Lansing is worth $270,800: 36% above the county and 17% above Michigan. With the typical household income in East Lansing ($45,687 a year), a typical home costs 5.9 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
East Lansing5.9 years
Ingham3.0 years
Michigan3.2 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Ingham County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Ingham County rose 92% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Ingham County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Ingham County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +4.6% +4.6% 2016
2017: +6.1% +6.1% 2017
2018: +6.7% +6.7% 2018
2019: +5.4% +5.4% 2019
2020: +3.2% +3.2% 2020
2021: +11.2% +11.2% 2021
2022: +10.8% +10.8% 2022
2023: +7.7% +7.7% 2023
2024: +7.4% +7.4% 2024
2025: +4.8% +4.8% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Ingham County, Michigan and the United States
Period
County
Michigan
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+4.8%
+4.7%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+49%
+52%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+92%
+97%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
East Lansing next to Ingham County, Michigan and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
East Lansing$270,800
Ingham$198,800
Michigan$231,600
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
East Lansing$1,171
Ingham$1,084
Michigan$1,129
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
East Lansing$45,687
Ingham$65,526
Michigan$72,875
United States$80,734
See the full table
East Lansing next to Ingham County and Michigan
Measure
East Lansing
Ingham County
Michigan
U.S.
Typical home value
$270,800 ▲36% above the county
$198,800
$231,600
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,171 ▲8% above the county
$1,084
$1,129
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$45,687 ▼30% below the county
$65,526
$72,875
$80,734
Households that own their home
39% ▼21 points below the county
59%
73%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$5,599 ▲54% above the county
$3,640
$2,904
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
2.07% ▲0.24 points above the county
1.83%
1.25%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
72% ▲19 points above the county
53%
50%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Ingham County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in East Lansing
For a typical $270,800 home in East Lansing, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, East Lansing's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$2,501a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$9,478
Cash to close
$17,602
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $120
Conventional, 5% down$2,451a month
Down payment
$13,540
Cash to close
$21,664
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $129
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$2,048a month
Down payment
$54,160
Cash to close
$62,284
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$2,298a month
Down payment
$40,620
Cash to close
$48,744
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in East Lansing
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,501
$9,478
$265,895
7.18%
FHA MIP · $120
$17,602
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,451
$13,540
$257,260
7.18%
PMI · $129
$21,664
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$2,048
$54,160
$216,640
7.18%
None
$62,284
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$2,298
$40,620
$230,180
8.18%
None
$48,744
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in East Lansing is $1,171 a month: 8% above the county. In East Lansing, 72% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Ingham County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,323 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $25.44 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Ingham County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,036
$19.92
$41,440
1 bedroom
$1,054
$20.27
$42,160
2 bedrooms
$1,323
$25.44
$52,920
3 bedrooms
$1,685
$32.40
$67,400
4 bedrooms
$1,739
$33.44
$69,560
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in East Lansing
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). East Lansing has 3 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,520 in 48824 to $1,540 in 48825.
3 of the 3 are above the fair market rent for Ingham County ($1,323).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each of the 3 ZIP codes of East Lansing, beside the one for Ingham County. For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,520 in 48824 to $1,540 in 48825. 3 of the 3 are above the fair market rent for Ingham County ($1,323).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each ZIP code
Each line is one ZIP code: in color, those above the county's fair market rent; in gray, the rest.
County: $1,323
Lowest: $1,520 (48824)Highest: $1,540 (48825)
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in East Lansing, fiscal year 2027.
48823
$1,210
$1,230
$1,540
$1,960
$2,020
48824
$1,200
$1,210
$1,520
$1,940
$2,000
48825
$1,210
$1,230
$1,540
$1,960
$2,020
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
48823 $1,540$1,960
48824 $1,520$1,940
48825 $1,540$1,960
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for East Lansing when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 6 buildings with rents for lower incomes in East Lansing. These are the largest.
Edgewood Village6213 Towar Garden Cir, East Lansing 48823135 homes, 126 low-income · For families(517) 351-1400
Deerpath1290 Deer Path Ln, East Lansing 48823126 low-income homes · 1 bd: 41 · 2 bd: 61 · 3 bd: 24 · In service since 2012 · For families(517) 332-7118
East Glen Apartments1801 N Hagadorn Rd, East Lansing 48823100 low-income homes · For older adults(517) 337-2009
Meridian Stratford Place2790 Sirhal Dr, East Lansing 4882360 low-income homes · 1 bd: 24 · 2 bd: 36 · In service since 2004 · For older adults, people with disabilities
1777 Haslett RD1777 Haslett Rd, East Lansing 4882358 homes, 41 low-income · 1 bd: 35 · 2 bd: 23 · In service since 2006 · For older adults
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Ingham County; none says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for East Lansing or Ingham County. The ones below are statewide in Michigan: they work in East Lansing the same as in the rest of the state.
Michigan state agency loan of up to $10,000, with no interest and no monthly payments, for the down payment, closing costs and prepaid expenses; it goes with MSHDA's MI Home Loan mortgage and is repaid in certain cases, such as when you pay off the first mortgage, sell or refinance the home, or no longer live in it.Offered by Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).
Michigan state authority certificate that lets you take 20% of the interest you pay each year on your mortgage off your federal taxes, for the life of the loan; you apply with an approved lender before you buy.Offered by Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).
The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of East Lansing, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.
No legal help resource on our list is for East Lansing or Ingham County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for East Lansing and all of Ingham County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in East Lansing?
The typical home value in East Lansing is $270,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Ingham County it is $198,800.
How much does it cost to rent in East Lansing?
Typical rent in East Lansing is $1,171 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Ingham County is $1,323.
What is the FHA loan limit in East Lansing?
East Lansing uses the FHA limit for all of Ingham County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in East Lansing?
The typical homeowner in East Lansing pays $5,599 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.07% of the home’s value; in Ingham County, the rate is 1.83%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in East Lansing?
There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Ingham County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
