Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Lawrence leads 14 of 22 categories
Columbus
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5
Median Household Income
$62,994 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
14
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.
Columbus, OH
Pros
6% less violent crime than Lawrence
Homes cost $35k less ($212,500 vs $247,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Households earn $3,160 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Lawrence
Lawrence, KS
Pros
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $123/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,161)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Columbus
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Columbus by $3,160/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Median Income
$3,160
$62,994 vs $59,834/yr
Columbus
Violent Crime
6% lower
434.9 vs 461.5 per 100k
Columbus
Median Home Value
$35k less
$212,500 vs $247,300
Lawrence
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 94.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $247,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 ✓ Higher | $59,834 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 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 | 119⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 10.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 32.7 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 14 of 22 categories. Columbus wins 8 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 Columbus to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $247,300 median home), income ($62,994 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Lawrence, KS are about 658 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.