Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Beaverton leads 12 of 23 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
97,554 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
11
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.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
Households earn $29,065 more per year on average
21% less violent crime than Lawrence
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,700
Higher rents — median is $1,663/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Lawrence
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $247k less ($247,300 vs $494,700)
Rent averages $625/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,663)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Beaverton
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Beaverton by $29,065/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Median Income
$29,065
$88,899 vs $59,834/yr
Beaverton
Violent Crime
21% lower
364.8 vs 461.5 per 100k
Beaverton
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.2% unemployment
Lawrence
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$247k less
$247,300 vs $494,700
Lawrence
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 82.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High | $247,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 ✓ Higher | $59,834 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 36.7 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Beaverton leads 12 of 23 categories. Beaverton 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 Beaverton to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $247,300 median home), income ($88,899 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Lawrence, KS are about 1,472 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.