Who moves to Lawrence, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for Douglas County, KS, home of Lawrence, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 5,767from other US counties
- Moved out
- 6,027to other US counties
- Net
- −260more departures than arrivals
- From abroad
- n/atax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Johnson County, KS (Overland Park) | 930 |
| Shawnee County, KS (Topeka) | 483 |
| Jackson County, MO (Kansas City) | 248 |
| Franklin County, KS | 201 |
| Leavenworth County, KS | 177 |
| Sedgwick County, KS (Wichita) | 177 |
| Wyandotte County, KS (Kansas City) | 165 |
| Jefferson County, KS | 163 |
| Riley County, KS | 93 |
| Clay County, MO | 72 |
| Osage County, KS | 56 |
| Miami County, KS | 53 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Johnson County, KS (Overland Park) | 1,070 |
| Shawnee County, KS (Topeka) | 535 |
| Jackson County, MO (Kansas City) | 395 |
| Franklin County, KS | 184 |
| Wyandotte County, KS (Kansas City) | 183 |
| Leavenworth County, KS | 178 |
| Jefferson County, KS | 169 |
| Sedgwick County, KS (Wichita) | 119 |
| Clay County, MO | 85 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 63 |
| Riley County, KS | 61 |
| Osage County, KS | 56 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 3,095 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in Kansas and 2,672 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Sedgwick County, KS (Wichita) | 177 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 33 |
| Saline County, KS | 31 |
| Douglas County, NE (Omaha) | 30 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Sedgwick County, KS (Wichita) | 119 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 63 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 50 |
| King County, WA (Seattle) | 28 |
| Denver County, CO (Denver) | 28 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Lawrence come from?
Most people moving into Douglas County, KS come from nearby counties, led by Johnson County, KS (930 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Sedgwick County, KS.
Where do people leaving Lawrence move to?
The top destination is Johnson County, KS (1,070 people). Farther away, the most popular is Sedgwick County, KS.
Are more people moving to Lawrence or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 5,767 people moved into Douglas County, KS from elsewhere in the US and 6,027 moved out, a net loss of 260 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Lawrence with any city it trades people with, like Lawrence vs Wichita, Lawrence vs Chicago, Lawrence vs Omaha, Lawrence vs Phoenix.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Lawrence.