Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gainesville, FL
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Lawrence leads 17 of 23 categories
Gainesville
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.9
Median Household Income
$43,783
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
142,414 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Gainesville, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 38°F
Homes cost $31k less ($216,600 vs $247,300)
Cons
Median income trails Lawrence by $16,051/yr
Violent crime (738.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2703.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Lawrence
Lawrence, KS
Pros
37% less violent crime than Gainesville
Households earn $16,051 more per year on average
Rent averages $113/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,151)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Gainesville
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Gainesville
Median Home Value
$31k less
$216,600 vs $247,300
Lawrence
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 96.9 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Income
$16,051
$59,834 vs $43,783/yr
Lawrence
Violent Crime
37% lower
461.5 vs 738.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.9 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $216,600 ✓ Lower | $247,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,151 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,783 | $59,834 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 11.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.2:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.0% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALACHUA | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,414 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 26.0 | 28.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.5% | 43.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 16.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gainesville's cost of living index is 96.9 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 17 of 23 categories. Gainesville wins 6 and Lawrence wins 17. 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 Gainesville to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($216,600 vs $247,300 median home), income ($43,783 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gainesville, FL and Lawrence, KS are about 975 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.