Homestead tax rates in the Greater Lansing area vary from a low of 17.55 mils in some rural areas to a high of 56.60 mils in East Lansing. In most cases, your tax bill will be consistent with the services and conveniences.

Taxes in Rural Areas
Many people choose to live in Rural areas because of lower tax rates. Tax rates are low because the government agencies in these places don’t provide a lot of services.

You maintain your own water supply and sewage disposal system. You'll pay a private contractor to haul away your trash. You may live on a dirt road that might not not be quickly plowed in the winter. You can expect to pay higher insurance premiums because fire and emergency services may be ten or twelve miles away, the nearest large hospital might take half an hour to reach, and you drive further to work each day.

Once you’ve factored in your driving expenses and increased insurance cost, the cost of trash removal, along with other inconveniences, you may find that you really haven’t saved much on your overall cost of living.  If low taxes were the only reason for rural living, you might need to take a closer look at your expenses.

Taxes in cities and towns 
Your taxes will definitely be higher, somewhere between 32 to 57 mils. However, you’ll
be closer to everything and you’ll benefit from the convenience of public utilities and services. You’ll most likely live in a subdivision where your children can walk walk to a neighborhood school and play in nearby parks.

You won’t put a lot of miles on your car when you go shopping or drive to work. Nearby fire and police protection will help reduce your homeowners insurance premium. When you decide to move, your home will attract more buyers because 75% of the population will seek a city or subdivision style of living.

Small cities, such as Williamston (51.13 mils) and Leslie (51.25 mils), maintain excellent schools and services with a small population base causing tax rates to be higher.

East Lansing Taxes
Many are shocked when they learn that taxes in the City of East Lansing are nearly 57 mils, higher than any neighboring community. The difference is because of the the services offered.

East Lansing has no city income tax. Fire and police protection are excellent. The schools are rated among the best in the State. Trash pick up is cheap. The city doesn't permit burning leaves and yard waste, so instead these are picked up in the fall and spring. No special assessments are applied to a residential property when it becomes necessary to make utility or street repairs. As usual, you get what you pay for.

Based on a study provided by the City of East Lansing, it's estimated that an owner of a $200,000 home in East Lansing is paying only $18/month more property tax than are homeowners in surrounding communities.

School districts make a difference:
City of Lansing taxes are based on a rate of 45.74 mils, provided the home is within the borders of the Lansing Schools district. Highway development and land annexation have created situations where children living within the boundary of a taxing authority may be attending schools in a neighboring district. Tax rates then reflect the cost of  education for that school district along with the cost of services provided by the home owners taxing authority.

Example: Tax rates for City of Lansing with a home located in these school districts.

• 45.75 mils   Lansing

• 53.84 mils   East Lansing

• 47.41 mils   Grand Ledge

• 53.67 mils   Holt

• 51.90 mils   Okemos          

• 54.31 mils   Waverly