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Living in
Lawrence.
About
Life in Lawrence
If you're thinking about moving to Lawrence, you're looking at a reasonably priced northeast Indianapolis suburb with solid fundamentals. Median home values sit around $230,100 with rents averaging $1,178 a month—both accessible compared to many comparable metros. The job market is stable with a 3.4% unemployment rate, and you're only about 25 minutes from downtown Indianapolis for work.
Lawrence at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.7%
Foreign-Born
11.6%
Broadband Internet
92.2%
of households
Population Growth
+2.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Lawrence: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lawrence, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (34.4%), and 14.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.6%
of residents
65 and Older
12.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.4%
of households
Married Couples
40.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.51
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 11% above IN average
Rent, home values, and income in Lawrence
In Lawrence, rent runs 11% above the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,942
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1992
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $266,750 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IN
Unemployment in Lawrence and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Lawrence is close to the IN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Lawrence Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN metro area
Commute24.7 min avg
How Lawrence residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lawrence, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 64% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 mi
Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
Medium hub5.2M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 23% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lawrence runs 23% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
252.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,181.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lawrence Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 20 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Marion County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Marion County, which includes Lawrence, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 20 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $551,000 |
| 2024 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.3M |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.6M |
| 2022 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $68,000 |
| 2021 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.2M |
| 2020 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $113,000 |
| 2019 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.1M |
| 2018 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $23,200 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Marion County, county-wide
Air Quality54 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Marion County, which includes Lawrence, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
54
Good Days
146
per year
Moderate Days
214
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Marion County, county-wide
Climate83°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lawrence has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.6"
Annual Snowfall
26.7"
Hot Days/Year
19
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
113
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
134
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 20°F | 3.32" |
| Feb | 41°F | 23°F | 2.66" |
| Mar | 51°F | 32°F | 3.86" |
| Apr | 64°F | 42°F | 4.61" |
| May | 74°F | 52°F | 4.94" |
| Jun | 82°F | 62°F | 5.56" |
| Jul | 85°F | 65°F | 4.67" |
| Aug | 83°F | 63°F | 3.89" |
| Sep | 77°F | 56°F | 3.56" |
| Oct | 65°F | 45°F | 3.43" |
| Nov | 52°F | 34°F | 3.51" |
| Dec | 40°F | 25°F | 3.17" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lawrence
Uninsured
9.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Lawrence's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Community Hospital North
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.5 mi away · Indianapolis
Fairbanks
Acute Care Hospitals · 3.5 mi away · Indianapolis
Community Hospital East
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.1 mi away · Indianapolis
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education18.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lawrence
Lawrence's student/teacher ratio is 18.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 35.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
13
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
35.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Lawrence (within 15 miles)
Indiana University-Indianapolis
11.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 13,830 students · in-state tuition $10,762 · 57% graduate · median earnings $58,990 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,317 students · in-state tuition $49,890 · 80% graduate · median earnings $83,535 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,005 students · in-state tuition $38,308 · 57% graduate · median earnings $58,791 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,266 students · in-state tuition $42,100 · 60% graduate · median earnings $64,806 (10 yrs after entry)
Chamberlain University-Indiana
7.3 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 144 students · in-state tuition $20,845 · 49% graduate · median earnings $96,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: William Howard Taft National Historic Site, 94 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lawrence
Lawrence has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being William Howard Taft National Historic Site (94 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
William Howard Taft National Historic Site
National Historic Site
94 mi awayDayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lawrence
Fort Ben Branch
9330 East 56th Street, Indianapolis
Cities Near Lawrence
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lawrence?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lawrence FAQ
Is Lawrence, Indiana affordable?⌄
Lawrence's median rent is $1,178/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $74,022/year. Median home value is $230,100.
Is Lawrence, Indiana safe?⌄
Lawrence's violent crime rate was 252 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1182 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lawrence, Indiana?⌄
Lawrence has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lawrence, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in Lawrence is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,178/month and median household income is $74,022/year. The median home value is $230,100. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lawrence, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in Lawrence is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from