Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
Roswell, GA
🏆 Roswell 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 ✓ Larger
Roswell
Georgia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $232k less ($247,300 vs $479,400)
Rent averages $581/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,619)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Roswell
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Roswell by $63,090/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.3%)
Roswell, GA
Pros
Households earn $63,090 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Lawrence
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $479,400
Higher rents — median is $1,619/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Lawrence
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$232k less
$247,300 vs $479,400
Roswell
Median Income
$63,090
$122,924 vs $59,834/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
65% lower
160.1 vs 461.5 per 100k
Roswell
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | Roswell, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 ✓ Lower | $479,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,619⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 | $122,924 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% | 25.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% | 63.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 94.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" | 1.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 ✓ Larger | 92,770 |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 40.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 70.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Roswell's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 16 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 7 and Roswell 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 Roswell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $479,400 median home), income ($59,834 vs $122,924), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and Roswell, GA are about 694 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.