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Moving Guides/Lawrence

Moving to Lawrence

What you need to know before relocating to Lawrence, Kansas. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.

Is Lawrence a Good Place to Live?

Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Lawrence compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($1,056/mo) is below the national average; low unemployment rate (2.6%) signals a strong job market; high school graduation rate of 91%.

Lawrence at a Glance

Population
121K
Median Income
$66,997
Median Rent
$1,056/mo
Median Home Price
$305,600
Unemployment
2.6%
Avg Commute
52364 min

Cost of Living in Lawrence

The median rent in Lawrence is $1,056/month, while the median home value is $305,600. With a median household income of $66,997, residents spend roughly 19% of monthly income on rent.

Overall, the Lawrence metro area is classified as affordable compared to other US metros.

Rent vs. National Avg
25% below
Home Price vs. National Avg
0% above

Job Market

Lawrence has a median household income of $66,997, which is 10% below the national median. The local unemployment rate is 2.6%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.

Safety in Lawrence

The violent crime rate in Lawrence is 430 per 100,000 residents, which is 13% above the national average of 380.

Property crime rate: 2094 per 100,000 residents.

Education in Kansas

Kansas has a high school graduation rate of 91% and per-pupil spending of $16,594/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1.

37% of Kansas adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Healthcare Access

Kansas has 226 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 7.8% uninsured rate, and 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Kansas is 77.2 years.

Pros and Cons of Living in Lawrence

+Pros

  • Rent ($1,056/mo) is below the national average
  • Low unemployment rate (2.6%) signals a strong job market
  • High school graduation rate of 91%
  • Low uninsured rate (7.8%) and good healthcare access

-Cons

  • Longer-than-average commute (52364 min)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lawrence a good place to live?

Lawrence, Kansas has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($1,056/mo) is below the national average and low unemployment rate (2.6%) signals a strong job market. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.

What is the cost of living in Lawrence?

The median rent in Lawrence is $1,056/month and the median home value is $305,600. The median household income is $66,997. Overall the metro is considered affordable.

Is Lawrence safe?

Lawrence has a violent crime rate of 430 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

What is the job market like in Lawrence?

Lawrence has an unemployment rate of 2.6%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $66,997.

Explore More About Lawrence