Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Fairfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834
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.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,023 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Lawrence
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $299k less ($247,300 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $1009/mo less ($1,038 vs $2,047)
7% less violent crime than Fairfield
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $39,023/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$39,023
$98,857 vs $59,834/yr
Lawrence
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Violent Crime
7% lower
461.5 vs 498.0 per 100k
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$299k less
$247,300 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $247,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $59,834 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 11.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 39.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Fairfield 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 Fairfield to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $247,300 median home), income ($98,857 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Lawrence, KS are about 1,441 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.