Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Lawrence leads 12 of 23 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
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.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Lawrence
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.2%)
Lawrence, KS
Pros
57% less violent crime than Lafayette
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Lafayette
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$12k less
$234,900 vs $247,300
Lawrence
Median Income
$984
$59,834 vs $58,850/yr
Lawrence
Violent Crime
57% lower
461.5 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Lawrence
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $247,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,038 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $59,834 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 11.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 12 of 23 categories. Lafayette 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 Lafayette to Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $247,300 median home), income ($58,850 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Lawrence, KS are about 632 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.