LANSING, Mich. — (Apr. 13, 2026) — The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) today released findings from a new Tri-County Population Study conducted by Public Sector Consultants, offering a long-term look at forecasted demographic trends across Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties, with serious implications for workforce growth, housing, and community planning. The study draws on trusted public data sources including the Census Bureau, Michigan Labor Market Information, and MI School Data.
The study shows that the Lansing region is projected to experience modest population growth (just under six percent) over the next 25 years, adding approximately 28,000 residents by 2050. Spread across a quarter century; it averages only about 1,100 additional residents per year—roughly half the seating of Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall. This slower population growth, and especially the heavy aging of our populace, will likely have significant negative impact on government revenue for even more in-demand services, customer base for small local businesses and labor force availability.
“While LEAP strongly believes that the Lansing region is uniquely positioned, with its many powerful assets and a collective re-commitment to economic development and support of projects, to resist this trend, the only real long term answer is to widen our population base through job creation, tech diversification of of our economy, public infrastructure investment improvements, double down on skilled trade training and higher learning and work toward strong people-oriented placemaking policies. If we can do this together, smartly, we can expand our revenue tax base pie through robust, smart, balanced economic growth and come out a big winner.” Says LEAP President and CEO Bob Trezise. “But we have to be brave about opening up this discussion and problem, to the public, for more serious dialogue and determined action. LEAP is now working on that action strategy.”
There are signs that we, as a region, can resist these trends. On March 27, the Wall Street Journal published an article entitled “Where the U.S. Is Growing—and Shrinking—in Charts” that highlights Lansing alongside Columbus Ohio as bright spots in the US Midwest, which is bucking the trend of net migration loss in recent years with some positive in-migration 2024-2025. While this is positive news, it may effectively be a blip in the big picture if we do not sustain net positive in-migration year in and year out over the next decade and beyond – the regional population today sits right where it was in 2017.
Currently, by 2050, the Lansing region is projected to add roughly 30 thousand seniors (65+) while at the same time losing 10 thousand young workers (age 20-44) and 14 thousand school-age kids (age 5-19). This equation needs to be addressed.
“This study reaffirms the importance of uniting regional leaders around efforts to build communities that attract and retain young workers, families, and entrepreneurs to improve regional competitiveness and sustain our long-term economic vitality,” adds LEAP COO Keith Lambert.
Key Findings: Age, Education, Housing
The region overall experienced 11% school-age (5-19) population decline 2010-2023 and is forecasted to have further 15% student body decline through 2050, likely resulting in school closures, districts consolidation, etc.
“We have felt the impact of fewer students entering each year, and this study shows the trend is likely to continue over the next generation,” said Dr. Sean Williams, Eaton Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) Superintendent. “We will endeavor to maintain and enhance quality education and talent building for the local economy with fewer students, but the related financial resource contraction makes that a difficult task to navigate.”
Current housing inventory availability is at 2.7% as of latest data for report. Housing experts consider about 5% availability as indicative of a healthy housing market, allowing residents to move freely between housing types and nearby communities. Diverse housing stock availability is also related to our ability to attract the critical in-migration necessary to compensate for natural population decline.
“The population study gives us the clearest picture yet of where our region is headed, and more importantly, what we need to do about it,” said LEAP Chair Mark McDaniel. “We are not waiting for 2050 to act. Our 2030 LEAP Strategy is being built right now, and we want community leaders, employers, and stakeholders at the table helping to shape it.”
“DeWitt Township residents want to remain in our community long past retirement, where they look forward to aging in the place they have called home for decades – but we are not prepared for the service and housing needs this shift in demographics demands,” said Amanda McClanahan, DeWitt Township Manager. “EMS runs have increased by 30 percent in the last five years alone, with needed spending more than doubling during the same period. Revenues did not keep pace, however, growing less than 25 percent. The path forward to meeting this demand has to include growing our tax base, while better meeting the needs of our aging residents.”
While these projections are not a verdict, they are both a warning and a window of opportunity. The Lansing region has outperformed expectations before. Conversations at the local level, along with partnerships, tools, and strong collective resolve, can lead to better outcomes.
See additional details and access the full report at: www.purelansing.com/population
