Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Edinburg leads 14 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$59,834 ✓ Higher
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.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($159,600 vs $247,300)
42% less violent crime than Lawrence
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 38°F
Rent averages $118/mo less ($920 vs $1,038)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Lawrence
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.2%)
Median income trails Lawrence by $5,695/yr
Lawrence, KS
Pros
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $5,695 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 97°F
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Edinburg
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Violent Crime
42% lower
269.6 vs 461.5 per 100k
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$88k less
$159,600 vs $247,300
Edinburg
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 88.6°F
Lawrence
Median Income
$5,695
$59,834 vs $54,139/yr
Lawrence
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $247,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $1,038 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $59,834 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 11.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" ✓ Drier | 39.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 29.9 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 14 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 14 and Lawrence wins 9. 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 Edinburg to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $247,300 median home), income ($54,139 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Lawrence, KS are about 889 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.