Lawrence, KS, known for its 'Small-Town Feel,' offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern urban amenities. Located in Douglas County, Lawrence is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Kansas City (41 miles) and Topeka (25 miles) enhance its status as a central point in the region. Lawrence's blend of scenic landscapes, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Lawrence is home to several iconic landmarks, including the University of Kansas, the historic Massachusetts Street, and the scenic Clinton State Park. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Lawrence Arts Center to the bustling The Granada Theater, known for its shopping and dining. Lawrence's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Midwestern cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Lawrence Busker Festival and the Free State Festival highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Lawrence's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like the University of Kansas contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Lawrence is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Spencer Museum of Art and the Lawrence Opera Theatre are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Lawrence provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Lawrence’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Kansas Jayhawks (NCAA) and the Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) in nearby Kansas City, providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Lawrence include education, healthcare, and manufacturing, with significant employers such as Lawrence Memorial Hospital and Hallmark Cards driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and bike paths, making transportation convenient for residents.
Amenities
Within the vicinity, you'll find a wealth of amenities, from restaurants and coffee shops to grocery stores and local shops, all easily accessible on foot.
Commute
High scores in the commute category could indicate that this area offers short commute times to work and readily available public transportation options.
Cost Of Living
Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.
Crime
High crime rates per 100,000 people are reported in this area, potentially indicating that it is an unsafe place to live. These statistics consider both violent and property offenses.
Lawrence is a mid-sized city located in the state of Kansas. The city has a population of 99,660 residents. At 79%, the majority of the Lawrence population is White; this is followed by 7% Asian and 5% Black. Lawrence tends to attract a younger crowd, as the median age of 28 is far below the national average. Lawrence is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 42% married, this city falls well below the national average. If you prefer shorter commutes, living in Lawrence will be a delight. With an average one-way commute time of just 20 minutes, traveling to and from work is notably more convenient than the national average, which stands at 26 minutes.
If you’re considering moving to any new city, it could be a very discouraging task. However, it could also be a positive experience if you are willing to get to know the city before actually living in Lawrence, Kansas. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. To help you find the best places to live in and around Lawrence, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like cost of living, commute, education, housing and more.
Lawrence, KS receives 88/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #1 in Kansas and #125 in the USA. This is a phenomenal score, as Lawrence ranks well in multiple categories! This city is also ranked in the top 10 percentile of all cities across the USA. If we consider each of the categories on their own, we see that Lawrence ranks well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). Unfortunately for Lawrence, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: crime (D).
If you're considering living in Lawrence, it comes with numerous advantages, particularly in the form of an extensive selection of local amenities. These amenities play a pivotal role in elevating the quality of life within this vibrant community. From easily accessible grocery stores, to conveniently located fitness facilities, a diverse range of dining establishments and a multitude of shopping options, Lawrence provides a comprehensive array of resources for its residents. This ensures the effortless fulfillment of your daily needs and creates ample opportunities for relaxation and recreation. The convenience of these local offerings greatly contributes to the overall appeal of the area, making it an enticing destination for those in search of convenience, diversity, and a gratifying lifestyle. If you're contemplating a move, the abundance of local amenities could very well be a defining characteristic of this area. A few of the enjoyable things to experience and sights to see are: Museum of Natural History, Liberty Hall, and Spencer Museum of Art.
A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Lawrence excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.
There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Lawrence is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Lawrence come in at $369,897, which is 49.9% higher than the Kansas average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Lawrence, the home price to income ratio is 4.6, which is 53.3% higher than the Kansas average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Lawrence | Kansas | National |
| Average one way commute | 20min | 19min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 74.9% | 82.2% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 7.7% | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 2.4% | 0.5% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 1.3% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 5.5% | 2.4% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 7.2% | 4.2% | 4.6% |
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