Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 16 of 23 categories
Lawrence
Kansas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
95,103
Overland Park
Kansas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$100,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
196,676 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $115k less ($247,300 vs $361,800)
Rent averages $340/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,378)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Overland Park
Cons
Median income trails Overland Park by $41,042/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.2%)
Overland Park, KS
Pros
Households earn $41,042 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Lawrence
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 62.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $361,800
Higher rents — median is $1,378/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Lawrence
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$115k less
$247,300 vs $361,800
Overland Park
Median Income
$41,042
$100,876 vs $59,834/yr
Overland Park
Violent Crime
60% lower
184.4 vs 461.5 per 100k
Overland Park
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 ✓ Lower | $361,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,378⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 | $100,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% | 19.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 196,676 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 38.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 16 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 7 and Overland Park wins 16. 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 Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $361,800 median home), income ($59,834 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and Overland Park, KS are about 31 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.