Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Chattanooga
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834 ✓ Higher
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.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Homes cost $17k less ($230,500 vs $247,300)
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lawrence, KS
Pros
44% less violent crime than Chattanooga
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$17k less
$230,500 vs $247,300
Lawrence
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Income
$2,131
$59,834 vs $57,703/yr
Lawrence
Violent Crime
44% lower
461.5 vs 823.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $247,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $59,834 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 11.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Chattanooga wins 11 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 Chattanooga to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $247,300 median home), income ($57,703 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Lawrence, KS are about 614 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.