East Lansing: Demographics & People
Census counts 45,758 people in East Lansing, in 13,850 households. Population grew 0.8% from 45,394 (2022) to 45,758 (2024). Median age 21.3 years. (12.0y younger than Ingham County; 16.4y younger than Michigan). Children under 18 are 9% of the population. Population is 72% White (non-Hispanic) and 9% Asian. 34% of households are family-led. County is gaining 317 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 36% adult obesity, 13% smoke.
- 3.3 people per household (vs Michigan avg 2.4).
- 66% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Michigan 44%).
- 22 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Michigan 66).
Population & Trend
Population grew 0.8% from 45,394 (2022) to 45,758 (2024) — about 1.3× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~46,124 (extrapolated at 0.4%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 46,615.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 79,128 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 0.8% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 45,394 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 45,758 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 45,758 people (at Michigan median) |
| Population Estimate | 46,615 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 21.3y is 17.6 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 9% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 21.3 years (vs Michigan 37.7y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 9.2% |
| Age Summary · Character | young community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 45,758 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 4,220 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 30,843.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 6,590.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 4,105 |
| Population under 18 | 4,220 |
| Median age | 21.3 years (vs Michigan 37.7y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 45,758 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| White residents | 33,495 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 3,576 |
| Asian residents | 4,213 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 2,839 |
| Diversity Index · Simpson Index | 44.4% |
| Diversity Index · Interpretation | moderately diverse |
| Asian population | 8.9% (vs Michigan 1.7%) |
| Black population | 7.6% (vs Michigan 7.5%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 6.6% (vs Michigan 5.2%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 71.5% (vs Michigan 66.5%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 1.3% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 12% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 28,255 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 11,665 |
| Share born in this state | 61.7% |
| Share born in another state | 38.3% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 25.5% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.3% |
| Naturalized citizens | 11.5% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 5,065 |
| From Europe | 584 |
| From Africa | 3,288 |
| From Latin America | 66 |
| Census Foreign Born · Caribbean | 10 |
| Census Foreign Born · South America | 107 |
Households & Family Composition
13,850 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 34% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 4,719 families, 33% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 4,085 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 4,719 |
| Married couples with children | 1,568 |
| Single-parent households | 169 |
| Average household size | 2.17 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 2.9% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 189 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 141 |
| Family households | 4,783 households (vs Michigan 10,723) |
| Households that are families | 34.5% (vs Michigan 56.3%) |
| Total households | 13,850 households (vs Michigan 18,535) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 40.5% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 317 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 40.5% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 79,892 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 79,575 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 317 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 1,985 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 4.4% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 15,507 residents live in group quarters (33.9% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 15,507 |
|---|
Veterans
| Veterans Services · Total count | 1 |
|---|
Sources: IRS BMF keyword
Other
| Congressional District · District | 4 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 26037 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 26 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 037 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Clinton |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 7.6% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 6.10 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 9.30 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 26037 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Clinton County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Medium metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,672 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 26037 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Clinton County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 60.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 59.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 64.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 79,595 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 13 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 14 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 9.2% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 45,758, stable, young community, working-class, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 45,758 people (at Michigan median) |
| Town Summary · County | Clinton County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade