City Comparison
Noblesville vs Lawrence
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Noblesville scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Noblesville
Lawrence
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Lawrence is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
14% lower than in Noblesville.
Housing costs are a major driver: Noblesville's average rent is
24% higher than Lawrence's.
| Metric | Noblesville | Lawrence | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,550 | $1,250 | +24% |
| Groceries | $420 | $380 | +11% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $115 | $115 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $230 | +4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,500 | $2,150 | +16% |
| Cost Index | 98 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Noblesville offers 16% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Noblesville delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Noblesville is estimated at
$58,000 vs $52,000 in Lawrence.
| Metric | Noblesville | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $71,000 | $61,000 |
| Salary Needed | $58,000 | $52,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 72,449 idx | 66,304 idx |
| Household Income | $94,500 | $63,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.59999999999999°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Noblesville sees 0.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Noblesville | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.20°F | 53.80°F |
| Summer High | 83.30°F | 83.70°F |
| Winter Low | 20.00°F | 20.90°F |
| Rainfall | 35.30 in | 42.10 in |
| Snowfall | 19.20 in | 18.30 in |
| Sunny Days | 241 | 240 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Lawrence has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Noblesville.
Lawrence scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Lawrence leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Noblesville | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 25 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Walkability | 42.0/100 | 45.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | 40.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Noblesville is the larger city
— approximately 1.5x the population of Lawrence.
From a growth perspective, Noblesville is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Noblesville has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Noblesville | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 71,000 | 48,312 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.30% | 0.80% |
| Median Age | 37.2 | 36.5 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Noblesville
Advantages
Consistently ranked among the safest cities in Indiana with low violent crime rates per census.gov data.
Top-rated public school district attracting families from across the Indianapolis metropolitan region.
Extensive outdoor recreation options including Morse Reservoir and Forest Park.
Vibrant and historic downtown square featuring local dining, boutiques, and community events.
Strong local job market backed by advanced manufacturing and healthcare employers.
Drawbacks
Higher housing costs and property taxes relative to the rest of Indiana.
High automobile dependency with limited public transit infrastructure within the city limits.
Increasing traffic congestion along major commuter corridors during peak travel hours.
Winter weather brings sustained cold temperatures and measurable snowfall requiring careful transit planning.
Limited rental housing inventory relative to surging population growth.
Lawrence
Advantages
Median home prices and overall cost of living remain comfortably below the national average per US Census and Zillow data.
Direct access to the 1,700-acre Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park providing extensive outdoor recreation.
Convenient location just northeast of downtown Indianapolis offering easy commuting and metropolitan access.
Diverse and welcoming community with active local civic engagement and family-oriented neighborhoods.
Solid local educational options and proximity to top-tier higher education institutions in Marion County.
Drawbacks
Car dependency is high, with limited public transit infrastructure outside of major commuter routes.
Crime rates in certain pockets of the city require careful neighborhood selection for prospective residents.
Property tax rates in Marion County can occasionally offset some of the savings from lower home purchase prices.
Retail and dining options within city limits are somewhat limited compared to central Indianapolis.
Winter weather brings cold temperatures and snowfall averaging around 18 inches annually.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Noblesville
#20Indiana, USA
73.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,550
Avg Salary
$71,000
Cost Index
98
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
42.0/100
Sunny Days
241/yr
Avg Temp
53.20°F
Pop. Growth
2.30%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
81
Business
75
Lawrence
#352Indiana, USA
59.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,250
Avg Salary
$61,000
Cost Index
92
Commute
25 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
45.0/100
Sunny Days
240/yr
Avg Temp
53.80°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
73
Business
67
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