Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Lawrence leads 12 of 22 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
Omaha
Nebraska
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5
Median Household Income
$70,202 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
97 ✓ Safer
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Omaha by $10,368/yr
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.2%)
Omaha, NE
Pros
20% less violent crime than Lawrence
Homes cost $37k less ($210,300 vs $247,300)
Households earn $10,368 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 92.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 85.2°F
Omaha
Median Income
$10,368
$70,202 vs $59,834/yr
Omaha
Violent Crime
20% lower
369.0 vs 461.5 per 100k
Omaha
Median Home Value
$37k less
$210,300 vs $247,300
Omaha
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 92.5 |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,099 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 | $70,202 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" | 33.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" ✓ Less | 27.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 12 of 22 categories. Lawrence wins 12 and Omaha wins 10. 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 Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $210,300 median home), income ($59,834 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and Omaha, NE are about 164 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.