Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 Lawrence leads 14 of 23 categories
Lawrence
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,103 ✓ Larger
San Leandro
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $525k less ($247,300 vs $772,700)
Rent averages $959/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,997)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
16% less violent crime than San Leandro
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails San Leandro by $37,307/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,307 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Higher rents — median is $1,997/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Lawrence
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Violent Crime
16% lower
461.5 vs 548.7 per 100k
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$525k less
$247,300 vs $772,700
Lawrence
Summer Heat
17.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Income
$37,307
$97,141 vs $59,834/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 ✓ Lower | $772,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,997⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 | $97,141 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 84.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" | 18.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 17.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 14 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 14 and San Leandro wins 9. 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 Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $772,700 median home), income ($59,834 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and San Leandro, CA are about 1,455 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.