Been meaning to ask this. Just moved here 3 months ago and Household incomes average around $71,805 in Lansing. Median household income is $71,805, which feels about average for the area. Poverty rate is 11.2%, which is around average. It's a a smaller city city with about 28,415 people. The food scene here is surprisingly good. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. What do you all think? The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly.
26 upvotes
4 Replies
Natalie Nguyen
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 7 years ago from Miami and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Westside. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in real estate. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Mediterranean.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
31 upvotes
Levi R.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a social worker, 25, moved here 8 years ago from Denver. I've lived in Eastside and East, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Lots of new development happening
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Property taxes are high
3. The community vibe situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for retirees. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- East: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Denver, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $50K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
30 upvotes
Levi Price
couldn't agree more
28 upvotes
Violet Robinson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in West. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in engineering. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Italian.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
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