Relocation profile · Federal data
Lawrence, KS
BEA RPP 90.2 ranks #104 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
- 90.2
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,182
- 2BR rent / mo
- $66,141
- Median salary
- 50.6
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Lawrence ranks #212 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (50.6/100), with its strongest marks in cost of living and schools.
- #212
- of 387 US metros · Near median
- 2,970,606
- metro-area population
- 456
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,354
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: low hazard (15/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Lawrence ranks #212 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 90.2 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,182/mo, median salary $66,141; LiveAbility Score 50.6/100, strongest in cost of living and schools.
Signature: BEA RPP 90.2 ranks #104 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 90.2 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,182/mo.
LiveAbility 50.6/100 keeps Lawrence in the middle third (#212 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Lawrence area is 44,630.
Lawrence vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
51 Top 55% higher than 45% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Lawrence housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Lawrence MSA; housing RPP 71.6 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,182/mo.
Lawrence wages and employment
Lawrence posts 44,630 total employment with median salary $66,141 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,320 |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,320 |
| Cashiers | $29,270 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $42,630 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $37,230 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Lawrence area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Lawrence area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Lawrence's composite Life Score is 55.6/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Lawrence ranks #212 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 50.6/100 - a composite of 7 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data (missing dims omitted; remaining weights renormalized). Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Lawrence - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Cost of living
Cost of living
73 /100
- Schools
Schools
71 /100
- Housing
Housing
67 /100
- Climate
Climate
48 /100
- Job market
Job market
44 /100
- Safety 17
Safety
17 /100
- Low hazard 15
Low hazard
15 /100
What this shows Lawrence's strongest dimensions are cost of living and schools; its weakest among scored dims is low hazard at 15/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%; this metro uses 7 of 8 dims with renormalized weights.
Compare Lawrence to
Metros near Lawrence on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Lawrence on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Lawrence cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Lawrence wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Lawrence?
Lawrence runs a $66,141 median salary at a 90.2 cost index, ranking #212 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Lawrence's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Lawrence head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Lawrence
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.