Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
Nashua, NH
🏆 Lawrence leads 12 of 23 categories
Lawrence
Kansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
95,103 ✓ Larger
Nashua
New Hampshire
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
90,943
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Rent averages $559/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,597)
Homes cost $98k less ($247,300 vs $344,900)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Nashua by $28,932/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Nashua, NH
Pros
65% less violent crime than Lawrence
Households earn $28,932 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $344,900
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Lawrence
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$98k less
$247,300 vs $344,900
Lawrence
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 84.7°F
Nashua
Median Income
$28,932
$88,766 vs $59,834/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
65% lower
160.5 vs 461.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | Nashua, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 106.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 ✓ Lower | $344,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,597⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 | $88,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% | 12.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 40.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | Nashua School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" ✓ Drier | 46.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" ✓ Less | 52.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 ✓ Larger | 90,943 |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 18.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Nashua's 106.1 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 12 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 12 and Nashua 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 Nashua or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $344,900 median home), income ($59,834 vs $88,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and Nashua, NH are about 1,265 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.