Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Lawrence leads 14 of 23 categories
Carson
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Lawrence
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
95,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,211 more per year on average
9% less violent crime than Lawrence
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Lawrence
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $369k less ($247,300 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $777/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,815)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.2%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $43,211/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$43,211
$103,045 vs $59,834/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
9% lower
420.0 vs 461.5 per 100k
Lawrence
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$369k less
$247,300 vs $616,000
Lawrence
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Lawrence
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $247,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $59,834 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 11.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 39.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 95,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 14 of 23 categories. Carson wins 9 and Lawrence wins 14. 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 Carson to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $247,300 median home), income ($103,045 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Lawrence, KS are about 1,322 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.