Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 13 of 22 categories
Lawrence
Kansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
95,103
Tampa
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Rent averages $384/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,422)
Homes cost $86k less ($247,300 vs $333,200)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tampa by $6,968/yr
Tampa, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 38°F
Households earn $6,968 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Lawrence
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$86k less
$247,300 vs $333,200
Tampa
Median Income
$6,968
$66,802 vs $59,834/yr
Tampa
Violent Crime
4% lower
444.6 vs 461.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | Tampa, 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 | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 | $66,802 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tampa leads 13 of 22 categories. Lawrence wins 9 and Tampa wins 13. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $333,200 median home), income ($59,834 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and Tampa, FL are about 1,056 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.