Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Lawrence leads 14 of 23 categories
Lawrence
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,103
South Bend
Indiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
52% less violent crime than South Bend
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $10,778 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($113,800 vs $247,300)
Rent averages $103/mo less ($935 vs $1,038)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lawrence by $10,778/yr
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Median Income
$10,778
$59,834 vs $49,056/yr
Lawrence
Violent Crime
52% lower
461.5 vs 965.0 per 100k
Lawrence
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 83.0°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 91.0 on the COL index
South Bend
Median Home Value
$134k less
$113,800 vs $247,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 103,084 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 14 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 14 and South Bend 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 South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $113,800 median home), income ($59,834 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and South Bend, IN are about 509 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.