Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
Oceanside, CA
🏆 Oceanside 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
Oceanside
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,701 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
173,722 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $397k less ($247,300 vs $644,600)
Rent averages $1040/mo less ($1,038 vs $2,078)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Oceanside
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.2%)
Cons
Median income trails Oceanside by $26,867/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Oceanside, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,867 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $644,600
Higher rents — median is $2,078/mo
Violent crime (458.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Lawrence
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$397k less
$247,300 vs $644,600
Lawrence
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Lawrence
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 76.5°F
Oceanside
Median Income
$26,867
$86,701 vs $59,834/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | Oceanside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 ✓ Lower | $644,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $2,078⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 | $86,701 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% | 13.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C (76) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 27.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | Scholarship Prep - Oceanside District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 66.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 173,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 21.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Oceanside's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oceanside leads 13 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 10 and Oceanside 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 Oceanside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $644,600 median home), income ($59,834 vs $86,701), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and Oceanside, CA are about 1,289 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.