Ingham County, MI at a glance
Median household income
$65,526$5,461 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Ingham County, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Ingham County, MI? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Lansing-East Lansing, MI MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $973 | $11,676 | $38,920 | 17.8% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,012 | $12,144 | $40,480 | 18.5% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,268 | $15,216 | $50,720 | 23.2% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,627 | $19,524 | $65,080 | 29.8% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,679 | $20,148 | $67,160 | 30.7% |
What a typical income covers in Ingham County, MI
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $65,526 a year ($5,461 a month before tax).
What $65,526 leaves after Michigan taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Michigan tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Michigan
Living in Ingham County, MI: common questions
What is the median household income in Ingham County, MI?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Ingham County, MI is $65,526 per year (approximately $5,461 per month).
What is the average rent in Ingham County, MI?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $973 for a studio, $1,012 for one bedroom, $1,268 for two, $1,627 for three and $1,679 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Ingham County, MI expensive to live in?
Prices there run 5% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 95.0, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Ingham County, MI?
To keep a $1,268 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $50,720 a year, or $4,227 a month. That is 77% of what the typical household in Ingham County, MI earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Ingham County, MI?
On the local median income of $65,526 ($5,461 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,730 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,638 for everything else and $1,092 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,268 takes 46% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Ingham County, MI?
Homes in Michigan paid 23¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $207. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.