Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
San Angelo, TX
🏆 San Angelo leads 17 of 23 categories
Lawrence
Kansas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$59,834
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
95,103
San Angelo
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
57 ✓ Safer
Population
99,422 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 97°F
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.2%)
Median income trails San Angelo by $5,206/yr
San Angelo, TX
Pros
53% less violent crime than Lawrence
Homes cost $76k less ($171,700 vs $247,300)
Violent crime is well below the national average (218.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 38°F
Households earn $5,206 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (2486.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 91.0 on the COL index
San Angelo
Median Income
$5,206
$65,040 vs $59,834/yr
San Angelo
Violent Crime
53% lower
218.2 vs 461.5 per 100k
San Angelo
Median Home Value
$76k less
$171,700 vs $247,300
San Angelo
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
San Angelo
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | San Angelo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 | $171,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 | $1,037 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 | $65,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 86.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | SAN ANGELO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 61.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" | 22.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" | 1.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 99,422 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs San Angelo's 90.9 (US average = 100).
San Angelo is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Angelo leads 17 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 6 and San Angelo wins 17. 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 San Angelo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $171,700 median home), income ($59,834 vs $65,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and San Angelo, TX are about 596 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.