Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Kirkland leads 15 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Lawrence
Kansas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
95,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $75,774 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Lawrence
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lawrence
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $690k less ($247,300 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1212/mo less ($1,038 vs $2,250)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $75,774/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$75,774
$135,608 vs $59,834/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
87% lower
60.6 vs 461.5 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.2% unemployment
Lawrence
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$690k less
$247,300 vs $937,700
Lawrence
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $247,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $59,834 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 95.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" ✓ Drier | 39.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 95,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 15 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 15 and Lawrence wins 7. 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 Kirkland to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $247,300 median home), income ($135,608 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Lawrence, KS are about 1,473 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.