Iowa City vs Lawrence
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $285,900 in Iowa City and $292,700 in Lawrence.
- Households earn more in Lawrence ($65,009 vs $58,546 median).
- Lawrence has the warmer winter: January highs of 38°F vs 31°F.
- Iowa City gets far more snow: 28 inches a year vs 10.
- Lawrence has more scorching days: 42 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 19.
Side by side
| Iowa City, IA | Lawrence, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 76,229 | 96,367 |
| Growth since 2020 | +1.9% | +1.5% |
| People per square mile | 2,959 | 2,784 |
| Median age | 26.2 | 29.3 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 61% | 56% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $58,546 | $65,009 |
| Median home value | $285,900 | $292,700 |
| Home value to income | 4.9× | 4.5× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,094 | $1,091 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 91.5 | 90.2 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 84.0 | 71.6 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $68,600 | $67,700 |
| Homeowners | 47% | 44% |
| Top state income tax | 3.8% | 5.58% |
| Combined sales tax | 6.94% | 8.71% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 17.3 | 19.8 |
| Work from home | 12% | 16% |
| Take public transit | 6% | 3% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| Poverty rate | 26.3% | 17.4% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 31° / 15° | 38° / 19° |
| July high / low | 86° / 66° | 89° / 70° |
| Precipitation per year | 36 in | 39 in |
| Snowfall per year | 28 in | 10 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 19 | 42 |
| Nights below freezing | 135 | 103 |
| Comfortable months | 5 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Low |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 87.4 | 74.8 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 70% | n/a |
| Home prices, past year | +3% | +4.8% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +33.9% | +41.6% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Iowa City: May and July to October. Lawrence: April and September to October.
Full monthly tables: Iowa City weather by month and Lawrence weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $68,600 in Iowa City and $67,700 in Lawrence. Moving from Iowa City to Lawrence, you would need about $74,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.