Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Lawrence leads 14 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834
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.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Households earn $19,192 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,000
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $136k less ($247,300 vs $383,000)
Rent averages $426/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,464)
36% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Median income trails Colorado Springs by $19,192/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$19,192
$79,026 vs $59,834/yr
Lawrence
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Violent Crime
36% lower
461.5 vs 715.6 per 100k
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$136k less
$247,300 vs $383,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High | $247,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 ✓ Higher | $59,834 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" ✓ Drier | 39.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 10.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 14 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $247,300 median home), income ($79,026 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Lawrence, KS are about 510 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.