Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 Round Rock leads 14 of 23 categories
Lawrence
Kansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
95,103
Round Rock
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$91,888 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Rent averages $548/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,586)
Homes cost $90k less ($247,300 vs $337,500)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Round Rock
Cons
Median income trails Round Rock by $32,054/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.8%)
Round Rock, TX
Pros
72% less violent crime than Lawrence
Households earn $32,054 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 38°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,586/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $337,500
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Lawrence
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$90k less
$247,300 vs $337,500
Round Rock
Median Income
$32,054
$91,888 vs $59,834/yr
Round Rock
Violent Crime
72% lower
130.7 vs 461.5 per 100k
Round Rock
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.2% unemployment
Round Rock
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 ✓ Lower | $337,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,586⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 | $91,888 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 120,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 14 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 9 and Round Rock wins 14. 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 Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $337,500 median home), income ($59,834 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and Round Rock, TX are about 598 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.