Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Lawrence leads 12 of 23 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
Median Household Income
$64,138 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
12
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.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 38°F
Households earn $4,304 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Lawrence
Lawrence, KS
Pros
26% less violent crime than Jacksonville
Rent averages $243/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,281)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Jacksonville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Jacksonville by $4,304/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Median Income
$4,304
$64,138 vs $59,834/yr
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 88.6°F
Lawrence
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Violent Crime
26% lower
461.5 vs 623.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 ✓ Lower | $247,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 ✓ Higher | $59,834 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 11.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ 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 | 19.1:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 12 of 23 categories. Jacksonville wins 11 and Lawrence wins 12. 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 Jacksonville to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $247,300 median home), income ($64,138 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Lawrence, KS are about 974 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.