Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Lawrence leads 16 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
16
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.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $29,378 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Lawrence
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $438k less ($247,300 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $943/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,981)
27% less violent crime than Boston
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.2%)
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $29,378/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$29,378
$89,212 vs $59,834/yr
Lawrence
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Violent Crime
27% lower
461.5 vs 627.9 per 100k
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$438k less
$247,300 vs $684,900
Lawrence
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Lawrence
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $247,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $59,834 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 10.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 43.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 16.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 16 of 23 categories. Boston wins 7 and Lawrence wins 16. 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 Boston to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $247,300 median home), income ($89,212 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Lawrence, KS are about 1,288 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.