on $100k a year, leaving Dayton

change
Lansing, MI cityscape

instead of dayton

Lansing

mi · metro 473k

a dispatch from

lansing

MI

42.73°N

84.55°W

Lansing is the Michigan state capital, Michigan State (East Lansing is essentially a continuation), and old auto industry roots that have softened into a quieter mid-sized city. The Grand River curves through downtown. The Capitol building is one of the prettier state capitols you'll see. Cheap, friendly, and a quick drive to Lake Michigan beaches.

metro473k

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$40

under Dayton, every month

A near-tie on cost. What separates Lansing is the life around the numbers.
landable, recorded on the lansing entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,259/mo

5% cheaper than Dayton(vs $1,321/mo)

02state income tax

4.25%

$22/mo more in state tax than Dayton

vs 3.99% in Dayton

03after rent

$6,720/mo

$40 more than Dayton

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$244k

75% more expensive than Dayton

vs $139k in Dayton

05metro size

473k

vs 808k in Dayton

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

153

pleasant days a year, in lansing.

Dayton has the edge here, logging 171 pleasant days a year. Winter shows up, though: 52 days below 20° vs Dayton's 34.

A similar weekend lineup to Dayton.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

57/100

8% lower than Dayton

vs 62/100 in Dayton

Closest outdoor draw: Sleepy Hollow State Park, 14.5 mi.

·walk score®

80/100

10% lower than Dayton

vs 89/100 in Dayton

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

6

62% fewer than Dayton

vs 16 nonstops in Dayton

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as lansing:

compare lansing with: