Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 Lawrence leads 12 of 22 categories
Lawrence
Kansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,103
St. Petersburg
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
259,343 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Rent averages $372/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,410)
26% less violent crime than St. Petersburg
Homes cost $42k less ($247,300 vs $289,000)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Petersburg
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails St. Petersburg by $10,499/yr
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
Households earn $10,499 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,410/mo
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Lawrence
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Violent Crime
26% lower
461.5 vs 619.6 per 100k
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$42k less
$247,300 vs $289,000
St. Petersburg
Median Income
$10,499
$70,333 vs $59,834/yr
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 ✓ Lower | $289,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,410⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 | $70,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 93.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 259,343 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lawrence leads 12 of 22 categories. Lawrence wins 12 and St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $289,000 median home), income ($59,834 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and St. Petersburg, FL are about 1,060 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.