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Living in
Lawrence.
About
Life in Lawrence
Living here means embracing a college town where you'll genuinely run into students, professors, and professionals all mixing together on the same streets—the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University are the economic anchors and cultural heartbeat, but they don't define everything about daily life. The median household income sits around $65,009 with a median home value of $292,700, so housing is genuinely affordable compared to most growing metros, though rent averaging $1,091 a month tells you the student population keeps rental prices competitive; unemployment hovers at 3.5%, which is solid, but job opportunities lean heavily toward education, healthcare, and a handful of larger employers like Maximus and Hallmark Cards, so if your industry doesn't align with what's here, commuting to Kansas City (35 miles west) becomes part of the equation. The summers are genuinely hot and humid—peak temperatures hit the low 100s—and winters are cold and dry, so you're trading mild springs and falls for real seasonal swings; the flip side is you've got 54 parks throughout the city, the nearly-complete 22-mile Lawrence Loop trail system threading around town, Clinton Lake just south for swimming and boating, and serious outdoor access without feeling like nature is far away.
Lawrence at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
29.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.4%
Foreign-Born
7.3%
Broadband Internet
91.6%
of households
Population Growth
+1.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.3% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Lawrence: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lawrence, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (16.9%), and 3.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
16.3%
of residents
65 and Older
12.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.1%
of households
Married Couples
36.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.15
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 about average for KS
Rent, home values, and income in Lawrence
In Lawrence, home values are 35% above the KS average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
90.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,659
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
43.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1988
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $332,513 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for KS
Unemployment in Lawrence
Unemployment in Lawrence is close to the KS 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
Commute19.8 min avg
How Lawrence residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lawrence, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 74% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 36 mi
Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
Medium hub5.6M 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 34% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lawrence runs 34% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
441.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,901.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lawrence Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 2 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
74.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Douglas County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Douglas County, which includes Lawrence, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 2 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | Blizzard | None reported |
| 2024 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 11 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $550,000 |
| 2018 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Douglas County, county-wide
Air Quality37 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Douglas County, which includes Lawrence, is typically good.
Median AQI
37
Douglas County, county-wide
Climate87°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lawrence has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
64°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
39.4"
Annual Snowfall
10.4"
Hot Days/Year
42
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
103
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
90
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 19°F | 0.96" |
| Feb | 44°F | 23°F | 1.54" |
| Mar | 55°F | 33°F | 2.32" |
| Apr | 65°F | 44°F | 4.13" |
| May | 74°F | 56°F | 5.13" |
| Jun | 84°F | 65°F | 5.69" |
| Jul | 89°F | 70°F | 4.28" |
| Aug | 87°F | 68°F | 4.63" |
| Sep | 79°F | 59°F | 3.95" |
| Oct | 67°F | 47°F | 3.20" |
| Nov | 54°F | 34°F | 1.96" |
| Dec | 42°F | 24°F | 1.61" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lawrence
Lawrence has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Lmh
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Lmh · 325 Maine Street
- Outpatient center: Lawrence Pediatrics, P.A. · 3510 Clinton Pl, Lawrence
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. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education17.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lawrence
Lawrence's student/teacher ratio is 17.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 55.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
18
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
55.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Lawrence
Public · 4-year · 21,217 students · in-state tuition $12,453 · 68% graduate · median earnings $67,963 (10 yrs after entry)
Haskell Indian Nations University
Public · 2-year · 978 students · in-state tuition $600 · 36% graduate · median earnings $38,914 (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: Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park, 23 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lawrence
Lawrence has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park (23 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
National Historical Park
23 mi awayHarry S Truman National Historic Site
National Historic Site
40 mi awayTallgrass Prairie National Preserve
National Preserve
79 mi awayFort Scott National Historic Site
National Historic Site
83 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lawrence
Lawrence Public Library
707 Vermont Street, Lawrence
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, Kansas affordable?⌄
Lawrence's median rent is $1,091/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $65,009/year. Median home value is $292,700.
Is Lawrence, Kansas safe?⌄
Lawrence's violent crime rate was 441 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1902 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lawrence, Kansas?⌄
Lawrence has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lawrence, Kansas?⌄
The cost of living in Lawrence is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,091/month and median household income is $65,009/year. The median home value is $292,700. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lawrence, Kansas?⌄
The average commute in Lawrence is 20 minutes, which is shorter than 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