Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Lawrence leads 12 of 23 categories
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
Montgomery
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
22% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,668 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $105k less ($141,900 vs $247,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.2%)
Median income trails Lawrence by $5,668/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Median Income
$5,668
$59,834 vs $54,166/yr
Lawrence
Violent Crime
22% lower
461.5 vs 594.6 per 100k
Lawrence
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 91.0 on the COL index
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$105k less
$141,900 vs $247,300
Montgomery
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 12 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 12 and Montgomery wins 11. 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 Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $141,900 median home), income ($59,834 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and Montgomery, AL are about 680 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.