Bloomington, IN vs Lawrence, IN

Lawrence is moderately more affordable than Bloomington, with a 9% lower cost of living index. Bloomington scores 92 compared to 84 for Lawrence, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Bloomington can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bloomington is $1,160/month compared to $1,084/month in Lawrence — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lawrence is more affordable at $220,400 median vs $289,700.

Median household income in Bloomington is $48,918 compared to $73,455 in Lawrence (-33.4%). Lawrence offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Bloomington spend roughly 28.5% of their income on rent, more than the 17.7% in Lawrence.