Residential comparison · 13 facts
Lawrence, KS vs Topeka, 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 $81,500 in Topeka to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Topeka, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $88,500 in Lawrence.
A few differences
- Lawrence is higher on median household income ($65,009 vs $56,956).
- Topeka is lower on cost of living index (76 vs 85).
- Topeka is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,016/mo vs $1,098/mo).
Lawrence vs Topeka · facet by facet
| Facet | Lawrence, KS | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $292,700 | $144,200 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,098/mo | $1,016/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 | 76 |
| Groceries index | 95 | 95 |
| Utilities | $165/mo | $165/mo |
| Median household income | $65,009 | $56,956 |
| 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 · Topeka, KS
Questions & answers
- Is Lawrence cheaper than Topeka?
- Topeka has the lower day-to-day cost index (76 vs 85 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Topeka equals $85,000 in Lawrence?
- A household earning $85,000 in Lawrence needs about $81,500 in Topeka to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Topeka lifestyle costs about $88,500 in Lawrence.