Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Atlanta leads 12 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834
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.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Households earn $17,821 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $148k less ($247,300 vs $395,600)
Rent averages $474/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,512)
45% less violent crime than Atlanta
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.2%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Atlanta
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Atlanta by $17,821/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Income
$17,821
$77,655 vs $59,834/yr
Lawrence
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Violent Crime
45% lower
461.5 vs 840.6 per 100k
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$148k less
$247,300 vs $395,600
Lawrence
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $247,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $59,834 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Atlanta leads 12 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 12 and Lawrence wins 11. 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 Atlanta to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $247,300 median home), income ($77,655 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Lawrence, KS are about 701 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.