City profile
Lawrence, KS
University of Kansas town with a lively Massachusetts Street and Langston Hughes heritage.
Climate
Climate type
Four seasons
Winter avg
30°F
Summer avg
79°F
Sunny days / yr
215
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$320,000
Typical monthly housing
$2,229
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
95
Taxes
- Property tax
- 1.29%
- State income tax (top)
- 5.58%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Partly exempt
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.65%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Low · county score 75/100
Top hazards: Winter weather, Tornado, Hail
Nearest major airport
36 mi to Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Democratic · 66% Democratic / 31% Republican
Demographics (Census ACS)
Population (2024)
96,051
Growth since 2019
-0.3%
Median age
29.3
Residents 65+
13.6%
Median household income
$65,009
Income growth since 2019
+21.2%
Black household income
$39,223
Home ownership
43.6%
Poverty rate
17.4%
Poverty rate, 65+
5.1%
Race & ethnicity: Black 4.8% · White 73.0% · Hispanic 7.9% · Asian 5.1% · Other 9.1%
Crime (per 100,000 residents, 2025)
Violent crime
441 · 34% above the national average
Property crime
1,902 · 23% above the national average
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, Lawrence Police Department. State average: violent 476, property 1,924.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸Home insurance premiums are rising quickly here
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: hail, tornadoes
Highlights
- Lively walkable downtown
- Langston Hughes’ boyhood home
- KU arts and sports
Trade-offs
- Small Black community
- Hail risk
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.