Flagstaff Lawrence

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Flagstaff to Lawrence is strongly favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 100.3 to 90.2 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent falls by $739/mo.

+$135
BLS median salary higher in Lawrence
429 to 456
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
17:1 to 13.8:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$5,518
DOL infant care lower / yr in Lawrence

BEA Regional Price Parity, HUD Fair Market Rent, BLS OEWS, FBI UCR, NCES, and DOL. The table below lets you override the composite with your own priorities.

Verdict
Strongly Favorable
Cost Index: 100.3 → 90.2
Rent Delta: -$739/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 10% lower cost of living
  • + $739/mo cheaper rent (2BR)
  • + Better student-teacher ratios
  • + More affordable childcare

Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP falls from 100.3 to 90.2, so each dollar covers more in Lawrence (ratio 0.90). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent drops $739/mo ($8,868/yr) from $1,921 in Flagstaff to $1,182 in Lawrence.

Lawrence leads on 6 of 7 federal dimensions, a destination-heavy ledger. Lawrence sits #212 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Flagstaff is #360/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Strongly Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $135 higher ($66,006 → $66,141). Labor-market size: 58,590 tracked jobs at origin vs 44,630 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors the destination: Kansas scores 63 (C, #21/51) vs Arizona at 53 (D, #37/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Flagstaff
Lawrence
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 100.3
RPP 90.2
Lawrence
Rent (2BR)
$1,921/mo
$1,182/mo
Lawrence
Wages
$66,006
$66,141
Lawrence
Crime
429 per 100K
456 per 100K
Flagstaff
Schools
17:1
13.8:1
Lawrence
Childcare
$11,301/yr
$5,783/yr
Lawrence
Environment
5259 violations
3819 violations
Lawrence

State retirement friendliness

Primary-state scores from PlainRelocate's retirement registry (tax + healthcare + climate composite). Metro pairs use each metro's primary state abbreviation.

Origin state · Arizona
53 D #37/51
Income tax
82
Property tax
80
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
22
Destination state · Kansas
63 C #21/51
Income tax
68
Property tax
61
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
54

Full retirement ranking · Source composite documented on methodology (Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides + federal healthcare/climate inputs).

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Flagstaff to see what you'd need to earn in Lawrence to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Lawrence
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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA; retirement desk: Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides June 2026