Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
O'Fallon, MO
🏆 O'Fallon 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
O'Fallon
Missouri
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$104,863 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
91,825
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Rent averages $273/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,311)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Homes cost $36k less ($247,300 vs $283,600)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than O'Fallon
Cons
Median income trails O'Fallon by $45,029/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.1%)
O'Fallon, MO
Pros
Households earn $45,029 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Lawrence
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (59.0 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Lawrence
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$36k less
$247,300 vs $283,600
O'Fallon
Median Income
$45,029
$104,863 vs $59,834/yr
O'Fallon
Violent Crime
87% lower
59.0 vs 461.5 per 100k
O'Fallon
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.1% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | O'Fallon, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 ✓ Lower | $283,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,311 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 | $104,863 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.1% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 18 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 23 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 12.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 42.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 95.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" ✓ Less | 13.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 ✓ Larger | 91,825 |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 80.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs O'Fallon's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, O'Fallon leads 13 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 10 and O'Fallon 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 O'Fallon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $283,600 median home), income ($59,834 vs $104,863), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and O'Fallon, MO are about 245 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.