The Town FilesLawrence, Kansas
City in Douglas County · population 94,934 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $292,700
- Household income
- $65,009
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 29.3
Lawrence is a city of 94,934 people in Douglas County, Kansas. The median home is worth $292,700, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Kansas towns, more vibrant than 99% of Kansas towns, better transit than 99% of Kansas towns.
How Lawrence ranks
Percentile among Kansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lawrence is worth $292,700, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $65,009, which is more affordable than 1% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $1,091 a month. 43.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lawrence | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $292,700 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $1,091 | $815 |
| Median household income | $65,009 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 43.6% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Lawrence
| People | Lawrence | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.3 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 55.8% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.4% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.3% | — |
| Work from home | 15.5% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 19.8 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Lawrence
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 19.4°F. About 39.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.4 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lawrence since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 15 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 28, 2019 about 8.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 62 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 9, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 205 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 26, 1991.
Severe weather in Douglas County since 1996
Douglas County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| June 20, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4449: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides |
| May 28, 2019 | Severe Storm | EM-3412: Tornadoes And Flooding |
| March 9, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1885: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Douglas County
Douglas County had 50,969 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,079 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Lawrence itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Lawrence
17 public schools with 9,966 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Free State High | 9-12 | 1,768 | 21.6 |
| Lawrence High | 9-12 | 1,499 | 19.5 |
| Lawrence West Middle School | 6-8 | 686 | 18.1 |
| Lawrence Southwest Middle School | 6-8 | 654 | 16.0 |
| Langston Hughes Elem | K-5 | 544 | 18.8 |
| Billy Mills Middle School | 6-8 | 484 | 14.7 |
| Deerfield Elem | K-5 | 469 | 16.8 |
| Sunflower Elementary | K-5 | 452 | 13.7 |
| New York Elem | PK-5 | 425 | 23.6 |
| Quail Run Elementary | K-5 | 416 | 15.4 |
| Hillcrest Elem | K-5 | 415 | 13.0 |
| Schwegler Elem | K-5 | 407 | 13.1 |
Towns near Lawrence
- Eudora, KS9.3 mi · 6,408 people · home $280,100
- Baldwin City, KS13.3 mi · 4,826 people · home $249,500
- Tonganoxie, KS14.3 mi · 5,573 people · home $261,700
- De Soto, KS15.1 mi · 6,118 people · home $422,400
- Gardner, KS21.3 mi · 23,287 people · home $306,200
- Basehor, KS21.8 mi · 6,896 people · home $349,900
- Bonner Springs, KS22.6 mi · 7,837 people · home $247,200
- Topeka, KS23.7 mi · 126,587 people · home $144,200
Lawrence questions
Is Lawrence, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lawrence scores better for retirees than 31% of Kansas towns and quieter than 1%. 12.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.3).
How much does a house cost in Lawrence?
The median owner-occupied home in Lawrence is valued at $292,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,009, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $1,091 a month.
What is the weather like in Lawrence?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 19.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.4 inches of precipitation a year and 10.4 inches of snow.
Does Lawrence get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lawrence since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 28, 2019. The typical Kansas town has had 26.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)