Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Carrollton leads 16 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
7
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.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
70% less violent crime than Lawrence
Households earn $35,546 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,555/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $327,300
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Lawrence
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Rent averages $517/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,555)
Homes cost $80k less ($247,300 vs $327,300)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Carrollton
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Carrollton by $35,546/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Median Income
$35,546
$95,380 vs $59,834/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
70% lower
137.1 vs 461.5 per 100k
Carrollton
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.2% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 88.6°F
Lawrence
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$80k less
$247,300 vs $327,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High | $247,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $59,834 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 16 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 16 and Lawrence wins 7. 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 Carrollton to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $247,300 median home), income ($95,380 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Lawrence, KS are about 423 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.