Lawrence, KS vs Shawnee, KS

Lawrence is moderately more affordable than Shawnee, with a 11.7% lower cost of living index. Lawrence scores 86 compared to 97 for Shawnee, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Shawnee can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Lawrence is $1,054/month compared to $1,233/month in Shawnee — a 15% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lawrence is more affordable at $269,500 median vs $332,900.

Median household income in Lawrence is $62,838 compared to $106,312 in Shawnee (-40.9%). While Shawnee is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Lawrence spend roughly 20.1% of their income on rent, more than the 13.9% in Shawnee.