Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Lawrence leads 13 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
13
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.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,147 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Lawrence
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $713k less ($247,300 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $1230/mo less ($1,038 vs $2,268)
37% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $45,147/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$45,147
$104,981 vs $59,834/yr
Lawrence
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Violent Crime
37% lower
461.5 vs 737.6 per 100k
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$713k less
$247,300 vs $959,800
Lawrence
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $247,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $59,834 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 39.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 43.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa'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 13 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 10 and Lawrence wins 13. 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 Costa Mesa to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $247,300 median home), income ($104,981 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Lawrence, KS are about 1,309 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.