How many renters in East Lansing, MI pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in East Lansing, MI, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

71.7% (±4.6 points) of renting households in East Lansing, MI spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

66.1% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 50.0% or more of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 71.7% (±4.6 points)
Paying 35% or more: 66.1% (±4.2 points)
Median share of income: 50.0% or more

Rent as a share of income in East Lansing

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	East Lansing	Ingham County	Michigan	United States
Less than 15%	6.3% (±2.3 points)	10.7%	13.5%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	7.5% (±2.4 points)	12.1%	12.2%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	7.5% (±2.1 points)	12.6%	12.4%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	7.1% (±2.6 points)	11.5%	11.5%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	5.6% (±1.9 points)	8.3%	9.0%	9.2%
35% or more	66.1% (±4.2 points)	44.8%	41.4%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

East Lansing against Ingham County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	East Lansing	Ingham County	Michigan	United States
Paying 30% or more	71.7% (±4.6 points)	53.1% (±2.2 points)	50.4% (±0.4 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	66.1% (±4.2 points)	44.8% (±1.8 points)	41.4% (±0.4 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	50.0% or more	31.9% (±1.1 points)	30.2% (±0.3 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$28,263 (±$3,529)	$38,673 (±$1,559)	$42,352 (±$376)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,171 (±$42)	$1,084 (±$16)	$1,129 (±$4)	$1,413

In East Lansing, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is higher than in Ingham County (53.1%).

It is also higher than in Michigan (50.4%).

It is higher than the national figure (51.1%).

In Ingham County, East Lansing ranks 1 of 21 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 154 of 1,485.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near East Lansing

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with East Lansing
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
East Lansing	—	71.7% (±4.6 points)	—
Meridian Charter Township	3.6 mi	48.1% (±5.5 points)	Lower
Haslett	4.3 mi	48.3% (±8.6 points)	Lower
Okemos	4.4 mi	48.0% (±7.4 points)	Lower
Lansing	4.6 mi	50.2% (±3.3 points)	Lower
Bath	5.0 mi	39.7% (±21.1 points)	Lower
Lansing Charter Township	5.4 mi	51.2% (±11.9 points)	Lower
DeWitt Charter Township	5.4 mi	46.1% (±13.0 points)	Lower
Edgemont Park	5.6 mi	55.8% (±23.8 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Meridian Charter Township, MI (48.1%), Haslett, MI (48.3%), Okemos, MI (48.0%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Ingham County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	East Lansing	71.7% (±4.6 points)
2	Williamston	64.1% (±23.4 points)
3	Aurelius Township	59.4% (±53.9 points)
4	Wheatfield Township	56.5% (±50.2 points)
5	Lansing Charter Township	51.2% (±11.9 points)
6	Lansing	50.2% (±3.3 points)
7	Leslie Township	50.0% (±74.6 points)

Showing 7 of 21 places in Ingham County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

What you can do on Seayora in East Lansing

One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.

Looking for a place to rent?

Browse homes for rent near East Lansing, save the ones you like and apply online.

Browse rentals · Create a renter account

Own or manage a rental?

List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for East Lansing beside you.

Create a landlord account · See what landlords get

Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?

Get found by owners and renters near East Lansing, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.

Join as a pro · Find a pro

Questions about East Lansing

Are renters in East Lansing rent-burdened?

71.7% of renting households in East Lansing pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in East Lansing spend on rent?

The median renting household in East Lansing, MI spends 50.0% or more of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for East Lansing city, Michigan (place:24120, in state:26).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.