Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edmond, OK
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Edmond leads 14 of 21 categories
Edmond
Oklahoma
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$96,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
43 ✓ Safer
Population
94,503
Lawrence
Kansas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$59,834
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
95,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Edmond, OK
Pros
Households earn $36,555 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Lawrence
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 38°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $57k less ($247,300 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $219/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,257)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Edmond by $36,555/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Edmond
Median Income
$36,555
$96,389 vs $59,834/yr
Edmond
Violent Crime
64% lower
165.2 vs 461.5 per 100k
Edmond
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.2% unemployment
Edmond
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 88.6°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 91.0 on the COL index
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$57k less
$247,300 vs $304,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edmond, OK | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 | $247,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,257 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $96,389 ✓ Higher | $59,834 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 11.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 43 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.2:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.0% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 95.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDMOND | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.9" ✓ Drier | 39.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.5" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,503 | 95,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edmond's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Edmond leads 14 of 21 categories. Edmond wins 14 and Lawrence wins 7. 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 Edmond to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $247,300 median home), income ($96,389 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edmond, OK and Lawrence, KS are about 256 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.