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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, East Lansing, MI has a Safety Score of 59/100 — safer than 59% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,440.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,219 of 2,957 US cities and #43 of 102 in Michigan.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than East Lansing, MI?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is East Lansing, Michigan Safe?
East Lansing, Michigan, home to Michigan State University, is a vibrant college town in the southern Lower Peninsula. Its population is largely young adults, and the city's culture is deeply intertwined with university life, including the Spartans' athletic traditions. Michigan State University is one of the most prominent universities in East Lansing.
East Lansing has a safety score of 59/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,440.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
East Lansing ranks #43 out of 102 cities in Michigan and #1219 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 59th percentile for safety — safer than 59% of US cities.
Year over year, East Lansing's total crime rate decreased by 9.9%, with violent crime rising 4.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
East Lansing Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 111 | 219.9 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 2 | 4.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 19 | 37.6 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 7 | 13.9 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 83 | 164.5 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 616 | 1,220.5 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 32 | 63.4 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 497 | 984.7 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 87 | 172.4 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
East Lansing vs Michigan Average
How does East Lansing's crime rate compare to the Michigan state average?
| Metric | East Lansing | Michigan Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 219.9 | 637.8 | -65.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,220.5 | 1,951.4 | -37.5% |
| Murder Rate | 4.0 | 7.5 | -47.3% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,440.4 | 2,589.2 | -44.4% |
East Lansing Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for East Lansing, Michigan.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 50,472 | 1,440.4 | 219.9 | 1,220.5 |
| 2023 | 49,589 | 1,599.1 | 209.7 | 1,389.4 |
| 2022 | 46,660 | 2,048.9 | 270.0 | 1,778.8 |
| 2021 | 47,548 | 2,056.9 | 252.4 | 1,804.5 |
| 2020 | 48,098 | 1,858.7 | 160.1 | 1,698.6 |
| 2019 | 47,913 | 1,936.8 | 183.7 | 1,753.2 |
East Lansing Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for East Lansing and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Michigan crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is East Lansing, Michigan safe?
East Lansing has a safety score of 59/100, meaning it has less crime than about 59% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,440.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, East Lansing is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in East Lansing, Michigan?
According to FBI data for 2024, East Lansing has a violent crime rate of 219.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,220.5 per 100,000 residents.
How does East Lansing compare to the national average?
East Lansing's total crime rate of 1,440.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 50,472 residents.
What types of crime are most common in East Lansing?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in East Lansing are larceny-theft (497 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (87 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 5.5x in the city.
Is East Lansing safe to visit?
Like any city, East Lansing has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 59/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.