Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Lawrence leads 14 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ 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.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 38°F
Households earn $4,151 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Lawrence
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lawrence, KS
Pros
30% less violent crime than Dallas
Rent averages $267/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,305)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Dallas
Homes cost $23k less ($247,300 vs $270,700)
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Dallas by $4,151/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Median Income
$4,151
$63,985 vs $59,834/yr
Dallas
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 88.6°F
Lawrence
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Violent Crime
30% lower
461.5 vs 658.2 per 100k
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$23k less
$247,300 vs $270,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 | $247,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 ✓ Higher | $59,834 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 43.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 14 of 23 categories. Dallas 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 Dallas to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $247,300 median home), income ($63,985 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Lawrence, KS are about 434 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.