Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Lawrence leads 14 of 23 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
14
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.
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $31,317 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lawrence
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $253k less ($247,300 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $761/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,799)
18% less violent crime than Jersey City
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.2%)
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $31,317/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Jersey City
Median Income
$31,317
$91,151 vs $59,834/yr
Lawrence
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Violent Crime
18% lower
461.5 vs 561.6 per 100k
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$253k less
$247,300 vs $500,100
Lawrence
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High | $247,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 ✓ Higher | $59,834 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 10.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 43.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 14 of 23 categories. Jersey City wins 9 and Lawrence wins 14. 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 Jersey City to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $247,300 median home), income ($91,151 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and Lawrence, KS are about 1,128 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.