Lansing MI vs Lexington KY — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Lansing, MI
Michigan · Population: 112,546
- Median HH Income$52,170
- Median Home Price$166,132
- Unemployment8.1%
- Bachelor's+29.6%
Lexington, KY
Kentucky · Population: 321,122
- Median HH Income$67,631
- Median Home Price$332,727
- Unemployment5.0%
- Bachelor's+47.3%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Lansing
112,546
Lexington
321,122
Lexington +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Lansing
N/A
Lexington
N/A
Median Age
Lansing
33.5
Lansing +
Lexington
35.2
Foreign Born
Lansing
10.1%
Lexington
11.0%
Lexington +
White
Lansing
56.1%
Lexington
69.9%
Lexington +
Black
Lansing
23.4%
Lansing +
Lexington
14.4%
Asian
Lansing
5.3%
Lansing +
Lexington
4.2%
Hispanic
Lansing
12.9%
Lansing +
Lexington
9.2%
Spanish at Home
Lansing
N/A
Lexington
N/A
| Metric | Lansing, MI | Lexington, KY | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 112,546 | 321,122 | Lexington + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 35.2 | Lansing + |
| Foreign Born | 10.1% | 11.0% | Lexington + |
| White | 56.1% | 69.9% | Lexington + |
| Black | 23.4% | 14.4% | Lansing + |
| Asian | 5.3% | 4.2% | Lansing + |
| Hispanic | 12.9% | 9.2% | Lansing + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Lansing
$52,170
Lexington
$67,631
Lexington +
Per Capita Income
Lansing
$29,894
Lexington
$42,272
Lexington +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Lansing
$58,052
Lansing +
Lexington
$52,606
Unemployment Rate
Lansing
8.1%
Lexington
5.0%
Lexington +
Poverty Rate
Lansing
19.9%
Lexington
15.7%
Lexington +
Bachelor's Degree+
Lansing
29.6%
Lexington
47.3%
Lexington +
| Metric | Lansing, MI | Lexington, KY | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $52,170 | $67,631 | Lexington + |
| Per Capita Income | $29,894 | $42,272 | Lexington + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $58,052 | $52,606 | Lansing + |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1% | 5.0% | Lexington + |
| Poverty Rate | 19.9% | 15.7% | Lexington + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 29.6% | 47.3% | Lexington + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Lansing
$166,132
Lansing +
Lexington
$332,727
Homeownership Rate
Lansing
53.9%
Lansing +
Lexington
53.6%
| Metric | Lansing, MI | Lexington, KY | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $166,132 | $332,727 | Lansing + |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.9% | 53.6% | Lansing + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lansing
471
Lexington
223
Lexington +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lansing
1590
Lexington
1505
Lexington +
| Metric | Lansing, MI | Lexington, KY | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 471 | 223 | Lexington + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1590 | 1505 | Lexington + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Lansing
39.9%
Lexington
N/A
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Lansing
12.4%
Lexington
N/A
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Lansing
19.6%
Lexington
N/A
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Lansing
9.3%
Lexington
N/A
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Lansing
16.4%
Lexington
N/A
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Lansing
16.8%
Lexington
N/A
| Metric | Lansing, MI | Lexington, KY | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 39.9% | N/A | - |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.4% | N/A | - |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 19.6% | N/A | - |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 9.3% | N/A | - |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.4% | N/A | - |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 16.8% | N/A | - |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lansing
48.8°F
Lansing +
Lexington
55.6°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lansing
32.2 in
Lansing +
Lexington
45.2 in
| Metric | Lansing, MI | Lexington, KY | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 48.8°F | 55.6°F | Lansing + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 32.2 in | 45.2 in | Lansing + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Lansing
10.7 µg/m³
Lexington
8.6 µg/m³
Lexington +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Lansing
55.0%
Lexington
75.0%
Lexington +
| Metric | Lansing, MI | Lexington, KY | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 10.7 µg/m³ | 8.6 µg/m³ | Lexington + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 75.0% | Lexington + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Lansing
21.2 min
Lansing +
Lexington
22.5 min
| Metric | Lansing, MI | Lexington, KY | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 21.2 min | 22.5 min | Lansing + |
Which City is Right for You?
Lexington leads in median household income at $67,631, while lansing offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $166,132. On public safety, Lexington is safer with a violent crime rate of 223 per 100,000 residents, compared to 471 in Lansing. Lexington has a lower unemployment rate at 5.0%, and Lexington has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.6 µg/m³).
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