Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Eugene
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834
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.
Eugene, OR
Pros
31% less violent crime than Lawrence
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Lawrence
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.2%)
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($247,300 vs $406,000)
Rent averages $231/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,269)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.2%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Eugene
Median Income
$1,647
$61,481 vs $59,834/yr
Eugene
Violent Crime
31% lower
317.9 vs 461.5 per 100k
Lawrence
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$159k less
$247,300 vs $406,000
Lawrence
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.1% unemployment
Lawrence
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $247,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 ✓ Higher | $59,834 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Eugene wins 11 and Lawrence wins 11. 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 Eugene to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $247,300 median home), income ($61,481 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Lawrence, KS are about 1,476 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.