Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 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
Salt Lake City
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $211k less ($247,300 vs $458,600)
47% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Rent averages $216/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,254)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Salt Lake City
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $12,523/yr
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.6%)
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Households earn $12,523 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.6%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Lawrence
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Violent Crime
47% lower
461.5 vs 864.2 per 100k
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$211k less
$247,300 vs $458,600
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$12,523
$72,357 vs $59,834/yr
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,254 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 | $72,357 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 19.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 50.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 201,269 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 32.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 18.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 13 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 13 and Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $458,600 median home), income ($59,834 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and Salt Lake City, UT are about 891 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.