1st Advantage MortgageIn Ingham County, Michigan, the typical household earns $65,526 a year and the typical rent is $1,084. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Ingham County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Ingham County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Ingham County
- Jobs and commutes in Ingham County
- The communities that make up Ingham County
- The counties around Ingham County
- Room for a loan payment in Ingham County
- Local borrowing considerations for Ingham County
- Who lives in Ingham County, in numbers
- Steps before you apply in Ingham County
- Lender oversight for Ingham County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Ingham County at a glance
Ingham County is home to about 283,913 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 8th most populous of 83 county-level areas in Michigan. It covers 556 square miles of land, or about 511 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Lansing-East Lansing, MI metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 12 places in the county (8 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Lansing, with about 113,023 residents, or 40% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Ingham County
Ingham County households have a median income of $65,526 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 33rd of 83 in Michigan.
| Yearly household income | Ingham County | Gap to Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.9% | +3.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.1% | +0.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.2% | -2.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.7% | -1.8 pts |
Some 27% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 31% have six-figure incomes. 16.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.2%). A household earning below the $65,526 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Ingham County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,084 in Ingham County versus $1,129 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 53% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $198,800, about 3.0 times the median household income. 59% of Ingham County households own their home and 41% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1971.
| Measure | Ingham County | Michigan | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,084/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $198,800 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 59% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.6% | 5.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 12% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Jobs and commutes in Ingham County
By the Census industry count, 30% of employed Ingham County residents work in education and health care and 11% in professional and administrative services. Education and health care stands out: 30% of workers here, versus 23% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.2% in Ingham County. About 66% drive to work alone and 8% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 8.9% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Ingham County share | +/- vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.2% | +6.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.5% | +0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.0% | -0.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.7% | -8.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.1% | +0.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.2% | +1.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The communities that make up Ingham County
Here are the 12 most populous of the county's 12 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 88% of Ingham County residents live in one of the 12. Dansville has the highest median household income on the list ($119,107) and East Lansing the lowest ($45,687), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $753 in Stockbridge to $1,317 in Holt. No Ingham County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 12.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing | city | 113,023 | $54,382 | $993 | 12 mi |
| East Lansing | city | 45,758 | $45,687 | $1,171 | 11 mi |
| Okemos | CDP | 26,396 | $102,612 | $1,298 | 8 mi |
| Holt | CDP | 25,316 | $86,472 | $1,317 | 8 mi |
| Haslett | CDP | 18,559 | $74,031 | $1,125 | 10 mi |
| Mason | city | 8,249 | $79,117 | $1,164 | 4 mi |
| Williamston | city | 3,807 | $71,379 | $900 | 7 mi |
| Edgemont Park | CDP | 2,551 | $62,543 | $774 | 15 mi |
| Leslie | city | 2,129 | $73,654 | $1,057 | 11 mi |
| Stockbridge | village | 1,383 | $49,545 | $753 | 15 mi |
| Webberville | village | 1,375 | $57,679 | $799 | 10 mi |
| Dansville | village | 599 | $119,107 | $1,042 | 5 mi |
The counties around Ingham County
Six nearby counties, 24 to 36 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. All of the six report a higher median household income than Ingham County; Livingston County is highest at $103,039 and Jackson County lowest at $66,073.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ingham County | - | $65,526 | $1,084/mo | 59% |
| Livingston County, MI | 24 mi | $103,039 | $1,287/mo | 87% |
| Eaton County, MI | 24 mi | $79,597 | $1,092/mo | 74% |
| Jackson County, MI | 25 mi | $66,073 | $985/mo | 75% |
| Clinton County, MI | 26 mi | $88,210 | $1,092/mo | 82% |
| Shiawassee County, MI | 27 mi | $67,404 | $899/mo | 80% |
| Washtenaw County, MI | 36 mi | $89,180 | $1,463/mo | 62% |
Room for a loan payment in Ingham County
Here is the Ingham County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Ingham County: $5,460
- Median rent: $1,084, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 35% ceiling, about $827 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,373 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Ingham County's.
Local borrowing considerations for Ingham County
What the Ingham County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Renters under pressure. When 53% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Ingham County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Who lives in Ingham County, in numbers
Degree holders: 41% of adults over 25. 4.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Ingham County | Michigan | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.3 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 41.2% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.3% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.9% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 17.3% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.7% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.2% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 46.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.0% |
| 60+ min | 5.0% |
Steps before you apply in Ingham County
Quick steps for Ingham County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Michigan license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Lender oversight for Ingham County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Ingham County resident can confirm its license with the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Michigan guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Michigan guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Ingham County?
$65,526 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,875 for Michigan. It ranks 33rd of 83 in the state.
How much is rent in Ingham County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,084 a month; 53% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Ingham County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Lansing, East Lansing, Okemos, Holt, Haslett and 7 more.
Is the fit check different in Ingham County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Ingham County residents?
The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services licenses consumer lenders in Michigan; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.