Lawrence vs Lexington
The short version
- Lawrence is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 3% lower than in the Lexington area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $292,700 in Lawrence and $293,500 in Lexington.
- Households earn more in Lexington ($69,479 vs $65,009 median).
- Lexington has the warmer winter: January highs of 42°F vs 38°F.
Side by side
| Lawrence, KS | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 96,367 | 329,751 |
| Growth since 2020 | +1.5% | +2.2% |
| People per square mile | 2,784 | 1,162 |
| Median age | 29.3 | 35.3 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 56% | 48% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $65,009 | $69,479 |
| Median home value | $292,700 | $293,500 |
| Home value to income | 4.5× | 4.2× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,091 | $1,164 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 90.2 | 92.9 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 71.6 | 77.1 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $67,700 | $69,700 |
| Homeowners | 44% | 54% |
| Top state income tax | 5.58% | 3.5% |
| Combined sales tax | 8.71% | 6% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 19.8 | 20.9 |
| Work from home | 16% | 12% |
| Take public transit | 3% | 2% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 4.4% | 4.9% |
| Poverty rate | 17.4% | 14.9% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 38° / 19° | 42° / 25° |
| July high / low | 89° / 70° | 87° / 67° |
| Precipitation per year | 39 in | 50 in |
| Snowfall per year | 10 in | 15 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 42 | 25 |
| Nights below freezing | 103 | 90 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Low | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 74.8 | 92.0 |
| Good air days, 2025 | n/a | 73% |
| Home prices, past year | +4.8% | +6.1% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +41.6% | +52.5% |
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: Lawrence: April and September to October. Lexington: April and September to October.
Full monthly tables: Lawrence weather by month and Lexington weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $67,700 in Lawrence and $69,700 in Lexington. Moving from Lawrence to Lexington, you would need about $77,200 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.