Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Garland leads 12 of 21 categories
Garland
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
9
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.
Garland, TX
Pros
50% less violent crime than Lawrence
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $11,210 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Homes cost $18k less ($229,000 vs $247,300)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Lawrence
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Rent averages $383/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,421)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Garland by $11,210/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Income
$11,210
$71,044 vs $59,834/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
50% lower
232.7 vs 461.5 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$18k less
$229,000 vs $247,300
Garland
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 88.6°F
Lawrence
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $247,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 ✓ Higher | $59,834 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 11.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Garland leads 12 of 21 categories. Garland wins 12 and Lawrence wins 9. 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 Garland to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $247,300 median home), income ($71,044 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Lawrence, KS are about 425 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.