Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Carlsbad leads 14 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
9
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.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $74,305 more per year on average
57% less violent crime than Lawrence
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 89°F
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Lawrence
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $823k less ($247,300 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1439/mo less ($1,038 vs $2,477)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $74,305/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$74,305
$134,139 vs $59,834/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
57% lower
199.1 vs 461.5 per 100k
Lawrence
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$823k less
$247,300 vs $1,070,500
Lawrence
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.0% unemployment
Lawrence
Summer Heat
14.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $247,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $59,834 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 39.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 14 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 14 and Lawrence wins 9. 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 Carlsbad to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $247,300 median home), income ($134,139 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Lawrence, KS are about 1,291 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.