Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Lawrence leads 16 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834 ✓ Higher
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.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $161k less ($86,200 vs $247,300)
Rent averages $208/mo less ($830 vs $1,038)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cons
Median income trails Lawrence by $18,391/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 5.2%)
Lawrence, KS
Pros
66% less violent crime than Dayton
Households earn $18,391 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Median Home Value
$161k less
$86,200 vs $247,300
Lawrence
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 92.3 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Income
$18,391
$59,834 vs $41,443/yr
Lawrence
Violent Crime
66% lower
461.5 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Lawrence
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
5.2% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $247,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,038 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $59,834 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 11.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 10.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 34.0 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 16 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 7 and Lawrence wins 16. 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 Dayton to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $247,300 median home), income ($41,443 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Lawrence, KS are about 593 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.