Photo: WeaponizingArchitecture · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, East Lansing is healthier than 97%
East Lansing differs from Michigan on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 13 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for East Lansing. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in East Lansing
East Lansing is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, East Lansing is healthier than 67%. Against the 4,257 towns with similar household incomes ($34K–$57K), it’s healthier than 97%. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in East Lansing
1 in 6 adults lack reliable transportation (16.3%), about twice the Michigan rate. Food insecurity (24.9% vs 15.4%) and utility shut-off threats (12.4% vs 8.7%) are higher too. 24.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Mental distress runs high in East Lansing
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (25.1%), vs 17.6% across Michigan. Loneliness is above the state too: 41.9%, vs 32.4% across Michigan. Mind & connection ↓
Cancer and stroke are less common in East Lansing
East Lansing runs below Michigan on eight chronic conditions, most of all cancer (3.8% vs 8.9%), stroke (1.8% vs 3.7%) and diabetes (5.9% vs 11.9%). A young population is part of it: only 9% of residents are 65 or older (Michigan 19%). Conditions ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Michigan figure falls outside East Lansing’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
What’s behind East Lansing’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, East Lansing is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns, #219 of 701 in Michigan. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). East Lansing’s median household income is $45,687; among the 4,257 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($34K–$57K), it’s healthier than 97%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
24.5% of East Lansing adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
How East Lansing adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, East Lansing runs above Michigan.
2 in 5 East Lansing adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Out of every 100 East Lansing adults…
East Lansing runs below MI on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 9% of East Lansing residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Michigan. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near East Lansing
No hospital or community health center in East Lansing itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of East Lansing; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
31 miles of trails across 27 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of East Lansing adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
East Lansing and the towns around it
East Lansing’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 6 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Lansing | B+ | 32.6% | 5.9% | 12.4% | CDC place |
| Lansing | C | 39.9% | 12.4% | 16.8% | CDC place |
| Meridian Township | A | 31.1% | 9.5% | 10.1% | ZIP codes |
| DeWitt Township | B+ | 35.3% | 10.4% | 12.9% | ZIP codes |
| Haslett | — | — | — | — | |
| Bath Township | A− | 33.9% | 9.6% | 11.9% | ZIP codes |
| Lansing Township | B | 37.9% | 11.2% | 13.8% | ZIP codes |
| Okemos | — | — | — | — |
Haslett and Okemos: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of East Lansing adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for East Lansing
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, East Lansing is better than Michigan on 10 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside East Lansing’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | East Lansing | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19%17–21.2 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.8%10.6–13.2 | 14% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 25.1%22.8–27.6 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.6%28–37.3 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 5.9%5.2–6.6 | 11.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 22.9%20.5–25.5 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 22.1%19.9–24.5 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 14.9%13.4–16.4 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.6%11.4–14 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 3.8%3.5–4.1 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.5%3.2–3.8 | 7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.3%4.8–5.8 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.8%1.7–2 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.7%10.7–15 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.4%10.9–14.1 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 23.3%20.3–26.6 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.6%15.8–21.6 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.9%30.5–39.5 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.1%7–9.3 | 6.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.1%70.6–77.3 | 80.3% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.3%60.3–66.4 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 70.7%67.8–73.4 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 54%52–56 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.1%65.1–72.9 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.9%70.9–82.1 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 32%28.6–35.5 | 25.7% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 41.9%37.2–46.7 | 32.4% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25%21.9–28.4 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.9%22.3–27.9 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.5%13.6–17.7 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.4%10.9–14 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 16.3%14.6–18.1 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24.5%21.8–27.3 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.2%31.7–38.8 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8%7.1–9 | 14% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.9%20.8–25.1 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.9%4.4–5.4 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 6%5.5–6.5 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.4%11.3–13.7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.6–3.1 | 3.8% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Michigan figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in East Lansing
Is East Lansing a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, East Lansing is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #219 of 701 in Michigan. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in East Lansing?
CDC estimates 32.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 28% and 37.3%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to East Lansing?
Edward W Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, 2.9 miles in a straight line from East Lansing’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in East Lansing have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7–9.3%), against 6.9% across Michigan.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in East Lansing more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in East Lansing.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Michigan figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.