Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Lawrence leads 14 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
14
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.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $114k less ($133,800 vs $247,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 5.2%)
Median income trails Lawrence by $3,714/yr
Lawrence, KS
Pros
56% less violent crime than Kansas City
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Households earn $3,714 more per year on average
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Kansas City
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$114k less
$133,800 vs $247,300
Lawrence
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Income
$3,714
$59,834 vs $56,120/yr
Lawrence
Violent Crime
56% lower
461.5 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Lawrence
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $247,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $59,834 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 11.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 39.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 10.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 14 of 23 categories. Kansas 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 Kansas City to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $247,300 median home), income ($56,120 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Lawrence, KS are about 30 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.