Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Lawrence leads 16 of 23 categories
Lawrence
Kansas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,103
Springfield
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
48% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $12,157 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Springfield
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $49k less ($198,500 vs $247,300)
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lawrence by $12,157/yr
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Income
$12,157
$59,834 vs $47,677/yr
Lawrence
Violent Crime
48% lower
461.5 vs 891.4 per 100k
Lawrence
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.7% unemployment
Lawrence
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 84.9°F
Springfield
Median Home Value
$49k less
$198,500 vs $247,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,047 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 16 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 16 and Springfield wins 7. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $198,500 median home), income ($59,834 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and Springfield, MA are about 1,209 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.