Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
Macon-Bibb County, GA
🏆 Macon-Bibb County leads 12 of 23 categories
Lawrence
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$59,834 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,103
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
69% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $10,937 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($155,200 vs $247,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lawrence by $10,937/yr
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Median Income
$10,937
$59,834 vs $48,897/yr
Lawrence
Violent Crime
69% lower
461.5 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Lawrence
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.5% unemployment
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$92k less
$155,200 vs $247,300
Macon-Bibb County
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | Macon-Bibb County, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 | $155,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 | $967 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 ✓ Higher | $48,897 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 309⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 394⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 25.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | Bibb County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 156,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 52.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Macon-Bibb County's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Macon-Bibb County leads 12 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 11 and Macon-Bibb County 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 Lawrence to Macon-Bibb County or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $155,200 median home), income ($59,834 vs $48,897), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and Macon-Bibb County, GA are about 774 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.