Residential comparison · 13 facts
Lawrence, KS vs Manhattan, KS
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Lawrence needs about $82,500 in Manhattan to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Manhattan, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $87,500 in Lawrence.
A few differences
- Lawrence is higher on median household income ($65,009 vs $60,172).
- Manhattan is lower on cost of living index (81 vs 85).
- Manhattan is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($992/mo vs $1,098/mo).
Lawrence vs Manhattan · facet by facet
| Facet | Lawrence, KS | Manhattan, KS |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $292,700 | $246,700 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,098/mo | $992/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.34% | 1.34% |
| State & local income tax | 4.09% | 4.09% |
| Sales tax | 8.7% | 8.7% |
| Cost of living index | 85 | 81 |
| Groceries index | 95 | 95 |
| Utilities | $165/mo | $165/mo |
| Median household income | $65,009 | $60,172 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% | 2.9% |
| Crime index | 48/100 | 48/100 |
| School rating | 6.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 230 days | 230 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Lawrence, KS · Manhattan, KS
Questions & answers
- Is Lawrence cheaper than Manhattan?
- Manhattan has the lower day-to-day cost index (81 vs 85 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Manhattan equals $85,000 in Lawrence?
- A household earning $85,000 in Lawrence needs about $82,500 in Manhattan to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Manhattan lifestyle costs about $87,500 in Lawrence.