Lansing Michigan Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Lansing, MI (the Lansing-East Lansing metro area) was $852 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Lansing was $882 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Lansing median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Lansing rental vacancy rates, Lansing rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Lansing.
Real Gross Rent in Lansing Michigan (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Michigan Median Gross Rent | $888 | +1.25% | +3.62% |
| Lansing, MI Median Gross Rent | $852 | -3.07% | -1.62% |
Lansing, MI Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Lansing peaked in real terms in 2018 at $879 and is now $27 (3.07%) lower. Average gross rent for Lansing peaked in real terms in 2018 at $909 and is now $27 (2.97%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Lansing: Lansing MI Median, Lansing MI Average, Michigan Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Lansing
| Date | US Median |
Michigan Median |
Lansing, MI Median |
Lansing, MI Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $888 | $852 | $882 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $877 | $879 | $909 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $861 | $869 | $908 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $857 | $866 | $881 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $852 | $838 | $864 |
| 2014 | $986 | $832 | $827 | $863 |
| 2013 | $953 | $809 | $831 | $858 |
| 2012 | $940 | $796 | $787 | $832 |
| 2011 | $941 | $798 | $779 | $812 |
| 2010 | $955 | $816 | $849 | $882 |
| 2009 | $960 | $816 | $806 | $824 |
| 2007 | $927 | $802 | $800 | $848 |
| 2005 | $910 | $819 | $806 | $855 |
Lansing Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Lansing Michigan was 7.08% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Lansing Michigan
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Michigan | 5.56% | +0.74% | +0.15% |
| Lansing, MI | 7.08% | +2.44% | +0.25% |
Trends in Lansing, MI Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Lansing peaked in 2005 at 12.27%. Since then it has fallen by 5.19% to 7.08%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2017 post peak low of 4.21%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 2.87%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Lansing MI, Michigan, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Lansing
| Date | US | Michigan | Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 5.56% | 7.08% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 4.82% | 4.64% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 4.87% | 4.21% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.41% | 6.83% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.19% | 4.79% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 5.88% | 6.74% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 6.04% | 5.58% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.73% | 7.61% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 7.72% | 6.79% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 9.60% | 7.56% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 9.48% | 7.24% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 9.66% | 6.99% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 10.09% | 12.27% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Lansing, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Lansing, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.29% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Lansing Michigan Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Michigan | 17.88% | -0.34% | -0.82% |
| Lansing, MI | 17.29% | -0.11% | -1.33% |
Trends in Lansing, MI Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Lansing household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2013 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.17%. Since then it has fallen by 1.88% to 17.29%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Lansing MI, Michigan, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Lansing Michigan
| Date | US | Michigan | Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.88% | 17.29% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.22% | 17.41% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.25% | 17.92% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.70% | 18.62% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.86% | 18.29% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 18.97% | 18.91% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.09% | 19.17% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.16% | 18.26% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.29% | 18.58% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.29% | 19.11% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.99% | 17.78% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.09% | 17.03% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.07% | 16.87% |
Renter Fraction in Lansing Michigan
You can calculate the renter fraction in Lansing in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Lansing as a fraction of total Lansing households. In 2019 32.66% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Lansing Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Michigan | 28.43% | -0.38% | -1.25% |
| Lansing, MI | 32.66% | -2.38% | -2.89% |
Trends in the Lansing, MI Renter Fraction
The Lansing household renter fraction peaked in in 2013 at 36.93% and is now 4.27% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Lansing MI, Michigan, US
History of Lansing Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Michigan | Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 28.43% | 32.66% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 28.81% | 35.04% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 28.67% | 35.54% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 29.68% | 35.55% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 29.58% | 35.79% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 29.76% | 35.87% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 29.45% | 36.93% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 28.94% | 34.86% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 28.26% | 35.13% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 27.25% | 33.32% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 26.81% | 32.70% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 25.17% | 30.72% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 25.33% | 31.29% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
