The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in East Lansing, MI: Crime Maps and Statistics

C-

Overall Crime Grade™

Violent Crime Grade	D+
Property Crime Grade	D+
Other Crime Grade	B-

Which crimes are included?

$25.2 million

Cost of Crime™ for East Lansing, MI

In 2025, crime will cost $1,169 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in East Lansing in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.

Is East Lansing, MI Safe?

The C- grade indicates that the rate of crime is slightly higher than that of the average US city. East Lansing ranks in the 32nd percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 32% of cities but less safe than 68%. This analysis applies only to East Lansing's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.

The crime rate in East Lansing is 31.14 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. East Lansing Residents generally consider the northeast part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in East Lansing varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 16 in the south neighborhoods to 1 in 59 in the northeast.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the southwest parts of East Lansing, MI see the most incidents - about 317 per year. In contrast, the west part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 62 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in East Lansing, MI

The total projected cost of crime in East Lansing for 2025 is $25,204,224. This translates to approximately $505 per resident and $1,169 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.6% of the median household income in East Lansing. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 53.5%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 34.7%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.7%

How Much Does Crime Cost in East Lansing Compared to Other Cities?

East Lansing, MI:	$505
Highland Park, MI:	$1848
Hudsonville, MI:	$149
Michigan:	$487
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in East Lansing is $505 per year, which is $41 more than the national average and $18 more than Michigan's state average. Below we compare cities similar to East Lansing:

In Highland Park, MI, crime costs $1,848 per person, which is $1,344 more than in East Lansing.
In Hudsonville, MI, crime costs $149 per person, which is $356 less than in East Lansing

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of East Lansing for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.

Crime	Cost to East Lansing	Cost per East Lansing Resident
Murder	$7.53 million	$151
Rape/Sexual Assault	$3.21 million	$64
Robbery	$371,211	$7
Assault	$4.19 million	$84
Kidnapping	$413,942	$8
Vehicle Theft	$1.99 million	$40
Burglary	$814,782	$16
Theft	$3.85 million	$77
Arson	$185,436	$4
Vandalism	$1.70 million	$34
Animal Cruelty	$35,347	$1
Drug Crimes	$536,471	$11
Identity Theft	$373,803	$7
Total Cost of Crime	$25,204,224	$505

The Intangible Cost of Crime in East Lansing, MI

CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in East Lansing totals $66,465,818 ($1,331 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $91,670,041 ($1,836 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.

Interpreting the Crime Maps

When interpreting the East Lansing crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the southeast part of the city has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which East Lansing has 13, have the same problem. Of East Lansing’s 49,933 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.

To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in East Lansing, MI at ISP Reports.

East Lansing Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 East Lansing residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	2.920
Robbery	0.2363
Rape	1.061
Murder	0.0803
Total Violent Crime	4.298 (D+)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	14.89
Vehicle Theft	2.573
Burglary	1.799
Arson	0.1538
Total Property Crime	19.41 (D+)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.1367
Drug Crimes	1.452
Vandalism	4.775
Identity Theft	0.9672
Animal Cruelty	0.0957
Total "Other" Rate	7.427 (B-)

Individual East Lansing Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of crime in East Lansing is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to East Lansing.

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Haslett, MI	B	B	B-
Okemos, MI	C+	C-	C-
Lansing, MI	D	F	D
Bath, MI	B	C+	B
Holt, MI	B	B	B
Waverly, MI	C	C+	C-
Dewitt, MI	A	B	A
Shaftsburg, MI	A	C-	A+
Williamston, MI	B	B-	B
Dimondale, MI	A	A-	A

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

East Lansing is higher versus other cities of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in cities with comparable overall population in the city‘s boundaries.

Similar City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Azusa, CA	C+	C+	C+
Yorktown, VA	B	A-	A-
Wheaton, MD	C	C+	C+
Wayne, NJ	B	A+	A+
Urbana, IL	C-	C	C
Tuckahoe, VA	C-	B+	B+
St. Louis Park, MN	D-	C	C
Southaven, MS	A-	A+	A+
Snohomish, WA	C-	B-	B-
Sherman Oaks, CA	D	D	D

Considering only the crime rate, East Lansing is less safe than the Michigan state average and as safe as the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in East Lansing, MI average SchoolGrade of B+, with 50% actual proficiency versus 39% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See East Lansing schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.