Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Lawrence leads 13 of 23 categories
Lawrence
Kansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,103
Palmdale
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($247,300 vs $397,500)
Rent averages $587/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,625)
Commutes run 22 min shorter each way
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
16% less violent crime than Palmdale
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Palmdale by $18,580/yr
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,580 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Lawrence
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Violent Crime
16% lower
461.5 vs 551.0 per 100k
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$150k less
$247,300 vs $397,500
Lawrence
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.4% unemployment
Palmdale
Median Income
$18,580
$78,414 vs $59,834/yr
Palmdale
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | Palmdale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 ✓ Lower | $397,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,625⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 | $78,414 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 166,895 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 33.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 13 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 13 and Palmdale 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $397,500 median home), income ($59,834 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and Palmdale, CA are about 1,296 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.