Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho 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
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
Median Household Income
$78,978 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Rent averages $319/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,357)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Rio Rancho
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $19,144/yr
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
31% less violent crime than Lawrence
Households earn $19,144 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 38°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Lawrence
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$19,144
$78,978 vs $59,834/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
31% lower
318.2 vs 461.5 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.0 |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 94.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" | 9.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 104,351 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 16 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 7 and Rio Rancho 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 Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $246,700 median home), income ($59,834 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and Rio Rancho, NM are about 679 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.