Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
Pueblo, CO
🏆 Lawrence leads 13 of 23 categories
Lawrence
Kansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,103
Pueblo
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$52,794
Violent Crime Index
375⚠ High
Population
111,430 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
68% less violent crime than Pueblo
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $7,040 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pueblo, CO
Pros
Homes cost $50k less ($197,700 vs $247,300)
Rent averages $98/mo less ($940 vs $1,038)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cons
Violent crime (1424.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4942.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Lawrence by $7,040/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Income
$7,040
$59,834 vs $52,794/yr
Lawrence
Violent Crime
68% lower
461.5 vs 1424.1 per 100k
Lawrence
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Pueblo
Median Home Value
$50k less
$197,700 vs $247,300
Pueblo
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.0°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | Pueblo, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 92.4 |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 | $197,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 | $940 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 ✓ Higher | $52,794 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 19.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 319⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 375⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 21.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | Pueblo School District No. 60 in the county of Pueblo and |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 93.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 111,430 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Pueblo's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 13 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 13 and Pueblo 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 Pueblo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $197,700 median home), income ($59,834 vs $52,794), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and Pueblo, CO are about 507 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.