Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Evansville, IN
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Evansville leads 12 of 23 categories
Evansville
Indiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
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.
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $126k less ($121,100 vs $247,300)
Rent averages $121/mo less ($917 vs $1,038)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lawrence by $9,981/yr
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lawrence, KS
Pros
62% less violent crime than Evansville
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,981 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.2%)
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
Evansville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$126k less
$121,100 vs $247,300
Lawrence
Median Income
$9,981
$59,834 vs $49,853/yr
Lawrence
Violent Crime
62% lower
461.5 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Lawrence
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Evansville, IN | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $121,100 ✓ Lower | $247,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,038 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,853 | $59,834 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 11.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 317⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.2% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.8" | 10.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,906 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Evansville's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Evansville leads 12 of 23 categories. Evansville wins 12 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 Evansville to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($121,100 vs $247,300 median home), income ($49,853 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Evansville, IN and Lawrence, KS are about 423 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.