Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Lawrence leads 17 of 22 categories
Albany
New York
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,103
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $34k less ($213,400 vs $247,300)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.2%)
Median income trails Lawrence by $5,098/yr
Lawrence, KS
Pros
44% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,098 more per year on average
Rent averages $92/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,130)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Median Home Value
$34k less
$213,400 vs $247,300
Lawrence
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Income
$5,098
$59,834 vs $54,736/yr
Lawrence
Violent Crime
44% lower
461.5 vs 816.9 per 100k
Lawrence
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.0% unemployment
Lawrence
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $247,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $59,834 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 11.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 10.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 32.0 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 43.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 16.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 17 of 22 categories. Albany wins 5 and Lawrence wins 17. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $247,300 median home), income ($54,736 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Lawrence, KS are about 1,148 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.