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.

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