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Lawrence, Indiana

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

60
Overall Score

Lawrence, Indiana, located in Marion County just northeast of Indianapolis, is a vibrant suburban community with a rich military history anchored by the former Fort Benjamin Harrison. Today, the city successfully blends its historic roots with modern residential developments, offering a welcoming atmosphere for families and professionals alike. Residents are drawn to Lawrence for its distinct neighborhoods, community parks, and convenient proximity to downtown Indianapolis while maintaining its own unique municipal identity.

About Indiana

Indiana, known as the "Hoosier State," offers a practical and community-oriented lifestyle with a cost of living generally below the national average. Its economy is diverse, with major industries including advanced manufacturing (automotive, steel, pharmaceuticals, medical devices), agriculture (corn, soybeans, hogs), life sciences, and logistics. The state experiences a humid continental climate, characterized by hot, muggy summers and cold, snowy winters, with spring and fall offering more moderate temperatures. Residents often value a relaxed pace of life, strong community ties, and access to outdoor activities and major metropolitan areas.

48,312
Population
$61K
Avg Salary
92
Cost Index
59.9
Quality Score
How this 60/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
Component Readings used Points Weight Contributes
Safety Safety score: 65 / 100 65.0 30% 19.5
Affordability Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 92.0 53.8 25% 13.4
Economy & jobs Median household income: $63,500 Income needed to live here: $52,000 Unemployment rate: 4.2% 62.6 20% 12.5
Growth Population growth rate: 0.8% Job growth rate: 1.9% 51.5 15% 7.7
Business climate assessment Business climate assessment: 67 / 100 67.0 10% 6.7
Overall score 59.9

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 1 (fast) (q=52, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 16 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Quality Scores

Business
67
Livability
73
Affordability
82
Growth
69

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Lawrence is notably more affordable than the national average, making it an attractive destination for budget-conscious buyers and renters. Housing costs, utilities, and everyday goods generally trend below typical US benchmarks, allowing residents to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle without excessive financial strain. This favorable economic positioning is a primary driver for families and young professionals looking to establish roots in the Indianapolis metropolitan area.

Average Rent
$1,250/mo
Groceries
$380/mo
Transport
$115/mo
Utilities
$175/mo
Healthcare
$230/mo
Gym membership (monthly)
$40.00
Cinema ticket
$12.00
Restaurant meal (mid-range)
$20.00
Monthly groceries
$380.00
Doctor visit (without insurance)
$130.00

Salary Insights

Lawrence benefits from a diversified regional economy with strong employment ties to the greater Indianapolis metropolitan job market. Key regional sectors driving employment include healthcare, manufacturing, education, and public administration. Additionally, the city supports local small businesses and entrepreneurship through targeted community initiatives and commercial revitalization projects.

The average salary in Lawrence is $61,000 per year. You would need approximately $52,000 to live comfortably.

Top Industries

Retail Trade +1.10% Manufacturing +1.50% Healthcare +2.40% Educational Services +1.80% Professional Services +2.20%

Climate

🌡️
54°F
Avg Temp
☀️
84°F
Summer High
❄️
21°F
Winter Low
🌧️
42.10"
Annual Rain
💧
68.00%
Humidity
🌤️
240
Sunny Days

Transport

Transportation in Lawrence is predominantly car-dependent, with major thoroughfares providing straightforward access to Indianapolis and surrounding employment hubs. Public transit options are available via local bus services connecting to the broader Marion County transit network. Walkability is generally concentrated around specific commercial centers and residential parks rather than city-wide.

25 min
Avg Commute
42.00/10
Transit Score
45.00/10
Walkability
High
Car Dependency

Pros & Cons

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.

Questions about Lawrence

What people ask about living in and moving to Lawrence, Indiana.

Gathering the most common questions about Lawrence…

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

The index tracks average out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, routine outpatient visit costs, and regional health insurance premium benchmarks published by federal health agencies.

Educational metrics aggregate state standardized testing benchmarks, student-to-teacher ratios, high school graduation rates, and per-pupil expenditure data published by state departments of education.
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