Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Clearwater leads 13 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834 ✓ Higher
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.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
14% less violent crime than Lawrence
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 38°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Lawrence
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Rent averages $351/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,389)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $41k less ($247,300 vs $287,900)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
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
Clearwater
Violent Crime
14% lower
395.5 vs 461.5 per 100k
Clearwater
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.2% unemployment
Lawrence
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$41k less
$247,300 vs $287,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $247,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $59,834 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 13 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 13 and Lawrence wins 10. 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 Clearwater to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $247,300 median home), income ($59,358 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Lawrence, KS are about 1,044 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.