Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
New Braunfels, TX
🏆 New Braunfels leads 13 of 23 categories
Lawrence
Kansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
95,103 ✓ Larger
New Braunfels
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7
Median Household Income
$85,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Rent averages $388/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,426)
Homes cost $44k less ($247,300 vs $290,800)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than New Braunfels
Cons
Median income trails New Braunfels by $25,993/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.8%)
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
66% less violent crime than Lawrence
Households earn $25,993 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,426/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Lawrence
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 93.7 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$44k less
$247,300 vs $290,800
New Braunfels
Median Income
$25,993
$85,827 vs $59,834/yr
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
66% lower
156.4 vs 461.5 per 100k
New Braunfels
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.2% unemployment
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | New Braunfels, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.7 |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 ✓ Lower | $290,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,426⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 | $85,827 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 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 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 38.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 91.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | COMAL ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" | 35.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 ✓ Larger | 92,993 |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs New Braunfels's 93.7 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 13 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 10 and New Braunfels wins 13. 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 New Braunfels or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $290,800 median home), income ($59,834 vs $85,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and New Braunfels, TX are about 660 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.