MoveMap
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