Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
95,103
Pasadena
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $734k less ($247,300 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $1062/mo less ($1,038 vs $2,100)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $37,984/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,984 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) 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
4% lower
461.5 vs 480.4 per 100k
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$734k less
$247,300 vs $981,600
Pasadena
Median Income
$37,984
$97,818 vs $59,834/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | Pasadena, 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 | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 54.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 17.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 12 of 22 categories. Lawrence wins 12 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $981,600 median home), income ($59,834 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and Pasadena, CA are about 1,308 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.