Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 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
Reno
Nevada
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $215k less ($247,300 vs $462,100)
Rent averages $322/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,360)
13% less violent crime than Reno
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Reno
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Reno by $13,239/yr
Reno, NV
Pros
Households earn $13,239 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 46°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Lawrence
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Violent Crime
13% lower
461.5 vs 529.6 per 100k
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$215k less
$247,300 vs $462,100
Reno
Median Income
$13,239
$73,073 vs $59,834/yr
Reno
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 | $73,073 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 20.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" ✓ Less | 33.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 19.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 13 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 13 and Reno 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $462,100 median home), income ($59,834 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and Reno, NV are about 1,312 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.