City Comparison
Lansing vs St. Clair Shores
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
St. Clair Shores scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Lansing
St. Clair Shores
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Lansing is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
14% lower than in St. Clair Shores.
Housing costs are a major driver: Lansing's average rent is
21% lower than St. Clair Shores's.
| Metric | Lansing | St. Clair Shores | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,150 | $1,450 | -21% |
| Groceries | $400 | $420 | -5% |
| Utilities | $180 | $175 | +3% |
| Transport | $110 | $130 | -15% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $230 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,060 | $2,405 | -14% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 98 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
St. Clair Shores offers 9% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, St. Clair Shores delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Lansing is estimated at
$48,000 vs $52,000 in St. Clair Shores.
| Metric | Lansing | St. Clair Shores |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $62,000 | $68,000 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $52,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 67,391 idx | 69,388 idx |
| Household Income | $54,382 | $78,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.7°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Lansing sees 1.3 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Lansing | St. Clair Shores |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 49.40°F | 50.10°F |
| Summer High | 81.60°F | 79.20°F |
| Winter Low | 17.00°F | 19.60°F |
| Rainfall | 28.20 in | 32.60 in |
| Snowfall | 34.80 in | 33.50 in |
| Sunny Days | 250 | 244 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Lansing has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,000 minutes (67 hours) per year compared to St. Clair Shores.
Lansing scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, St. Clair Shores leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Lansing | St. Clair Shores |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 19 min | 27 min |
| Transit Score | 52.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Walkability | 46.0/100 | 52.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 40.00 | 44.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Lansing is the larger city
— approximately 1.9x the population of St. Clair Shores.
From a growth perspective, Lansing is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, St. Clair Shores has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Lansing | St. Clair Shores |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 113,884 | 58,800 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.30% | — |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 43.5 |
| Unemployment | 4.60% | 4.00% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Lansing
Advantages
Median home purchase prices and overall housing costs remain significantly lower than the national average per U.S. Census Bureau data.
The local economy benefits from strong public-sector stability anchored by the Michigan state government and regional healthcare networks.
Lansing offers an extensive outdoor recreation network, highlighted by the scenic multi-use Lansing River Trail.
Cultural districts like Old Town and REO Town provide vibrant arts scenes, local dining, and community festivals.
Commute times are notably shorter and traffic congestion is milder than in major U.S. metropolitan hubs.
Drawbacks
Poverty rates in specific urban core neighborhoods trend higher than the national average per American Community Survey data.
Public transit is less comprehensive outside of core urban and campus corridors, resulting in high car dependency.
Winter weather brings sustained cold temperatures and consistent seasonal snowfall requiring winterized infrastructure.
Certain city zones experience higher property crime rates that require careful neighborhood selection.
Per capita personal income tracks below the national average relative to coastal economic centers.
St. Clair Shores
Advantages
Extensive waterfront access and boating culture along the famous Nautical Mile and Lake St. Clair
Crime rates consistently lower than both Michigan state averages and national benchmarks
More affordable housing options compared to western and northern Detroit metro suburbs
Proximity to major regional employment centers in Detroit, Warren, and Troy via I-94
Active municipal park system featuring popular community gathering spots like Blossom Heath Park
Drawbacks
High car-dependency with limited robust public mass transit options within city borders
Older housing stock often requires ongoing maintenance and updates for modern energy efficiency
Property tax rates in Macomb County can be relatively high compared to some outer-ring suburbs
Winters bring substantial snowfall (33.5 inches annually) requiring regular snow removal
Limited large corporate headquarters physically located inside city limits, necessitating commutes
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Lansing
#411Michigan, USA
57.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,150
Avg Salary
$62,000
Cost Index
92
Commute
19 min
Transit Score
52.0/100
Walkability
46.0/100
Sunny Days
250/yr
Avg Temp
49.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.30%
Unemployment
4.60%
Livability
73
Business
68
St. Clair Shores
#139Michigan, USA
65.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$68,000
Cost Index
98
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
244/yr
Avg Temp
50.10°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.00%
Livability
76
Business
68
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