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Lansing-East Lansing, MI

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Lansing-East Lansing, MI is $1,268 per month, ranking #332 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $70,886, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 21.5% of income on housing. Rent in Lansing-East Lansing has increased 16.1% year over year. The area has a population of 470K, with 33.2% of households renting.

21.5%
Moderately Affordable
of income → rent
$1,268
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$70,886
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$1,054
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+16.1%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
470K
Population
Census ACS
33.2%
Renters
of occupied housing
$205,400
Median Home Value
6.6%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
13.1%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$973
Studio
$1,012
1 Bedroom
$1,268
2 Bedroom
$1,627
3 Bedroom
$1,679
4 Bedroom

Fair Market Rents (FMRs) are set annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality units in an area. FMRs are used to determine payment standards for the Housing Choice Voucher program and other federal housing assistance.

Housing Affordability

In Lansing-East Lansing, MI, a household earning the area median income of $70,886 would spend 21.5% of their gross income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This falls below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, meaning housing is relatively affordable for median-income households in this area.

Income Needed for 2BR
$50,720
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$24
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$1,054
$214 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+39.5% since 2021
$9092021$9362022$1,0632023$1,0922024$1,1272025$1,2682026

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent by fiscal year. Source: HUD FMR API.

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in Michigan is $12.48/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 78.2 hours per week to afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding 30% of income on housing. This means a single minimum-wage earner cannot afford a 2-bedroom working a standard 40-hour week. The poverty rate in Lansing-East Lansing is 13.1%, near the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$12.48/hr
Hours/Week Needed
78.2 hrs
Poverty Rate
13.1%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Lansing-East Lansing is $205,400. At a median income of $70,886, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 2.9x. 6.6% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is below the national average and suggests a tight housing market.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,438 est. mortgage
vs $1,268 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
6.6%
of housing units

Other Areas in Michigan

Ann Arbor
$1,656/mo
2BR FMR · 22.8% burden
Grand Rapids-Wyoming
$1,531/mo
2BR FMR · 22.9% burden
Holland-Grand Haven
$1,519/mo
2BR FMR · 22.7% burden
Leelanau County
$1,497/mo
2BR FMR · 19.5% burden
Livingston County
$1,457/mo
2BR FMR · 23.3% burden

Compare Lansing-East Lansing

vs Ann Arbor, MIvs Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MIvs Holland-Grand Haven, MI

Areas With Similar Rent to Lansing-East Lansing

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Lansing-East Lansing, MI is $1,268 per month. A studio is $973/mo, a 1-bedroom is $1,012/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,627/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $1,054/mo.

Lansing-East Lansing has a rent burden of 21.5%, meaning a household earning the median income of $70,886 would spend 21.5% of income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This is below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, indicating relatively affordable housing. To afford a 2-bedroom without being cost-burdened, a household would need an annual income of at least $50,720.

Lansing-East Lansing's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,268/mo is $18 above the national median of $1,250/mo. Lansing-East Lansing ranks #332 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Lansing-East Lansing without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $50,720, or a full-time hourly wage of $24/hour. The area median income is $70,886.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lansing-East Lansing increased by 16.1% compared to the prior year. This is a significant increase, suggesting growing demand in the local housing market.

Fair Market Rents represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality rental units. Rent burden is calculated as annual 2BR FMR divided by area median household income. Census data (income, home value, population, vacancy) is from the ACS 5-Year estimates. Unemployment rates are from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.