Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Lawrence leads 18 of 23 categories
Lawrence
Kansas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,103
Newark
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (5.2%)
21% less violent crime than Newark
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $13,374 more per year on average
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Homes cost $65k less ($247,300 vs $312,300)
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Newark, NJ
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lawrence by $13,374/yr
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lawrence
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Income
$13,374
$59,834 vs $46,460/yr
Lawrence
Violent Crime
21% lower
461.5 vs 581.2 per 100k
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$65k less
$247,300 vs $312,300
Lawrence
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 10.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 ✓ Lower | $312,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,273 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 18 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 18 and Newark wins 5. 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $312,300 median home), income ($59,834 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and Newark, NJ are about 1,123 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.