Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 15 of 23 categories
Lawrence
Kansas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
95,103
Meridian
Idaho
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $179k less ($247,300 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $510/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,548)
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
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Meridian
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $33,462/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 2.7%)
Meridian, ID
Pros
68% less violent crime than Lawrence
Households earn $33,462 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Lawrence
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$179k less
$247,300 vs $425,800
Meridian
Median Income
$33,462
$93,296 vs $59,834/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
68% lower
146.8 vs 461.5 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
2.7% vs 5.2% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 43.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" ✓ Less | 18.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 119,872 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 15 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 8 and Meridian wins 15. 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 Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $425,800 median home), income ($59,834 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and Meridian, ID are about 1,140 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.