Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Lawrence leads 12 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
95,103
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $53,345 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Lawrence
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Lawrence
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $408k less ($247,300 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $945/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,983)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $53,345/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$53,345
$113,179 vs $59,834/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
53% lower
219.1 vs 461.5 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Lawrence
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$408k less
$247,300 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $247,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $59,834 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 10.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 43.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 12 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 11 and Lawrence wins 12. 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 Alexandria to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $247,300 median home), income ($113,179 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Lawrence, KS are about 976 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.