Allen Fieldhouse is the heart of Lawrence, a lively college town in eastern Kansas and home of the University of Kansas and the Jayhawks, and a game there is a real event. The city feels more like a small liberal enclave than a typical Midwestern one, and basketball is close to religion here. The city also has an important place in the Bleeding Kansas story of the 1850s.
About 96,000 people live here, and Massachusetts Street is the heart of it, full of independent shops, restaurants, bars and live music. Visitors can spend time at the Spencer Museum of Art, the Lawrence Arts Center, Haskell Indian Nations University, or out at Clinton Lake. Festivals run through the year, including the Free State Festival in June and the Busker Festival in May. Living costs are below the national average, and homes are affordable, though prices are rising. Kansas City is about 40 miles away and Topeka 27. Spring brings tornado and storm risk, summers are hot and humid, and winters can bring ice. Violent crime is a bit above the US average, and the bar districts see altercations late at night.
Cities with a similar character, anywhere on the site.
Out of 10. Open any score to see how it’s worked out. “Data-based” scores come from published figures; “Hey! En Route estimate” scores are worked out from what we know about the city; “Hey! En Route rating” scores were set by our editors.
- Known as
- Home of the Jayhawks; Cradle of Basketball; Free State (Bleeding Kansas heritage); Unmistakably Lawrence
- Founded
- 1854 settled (New England Emigrant Aid Company); 1858 incorporated
- Languages
- English; Spanish; Native American languages among the Haskell Indian Nations University community
- Airports
- Kansas City International (MCI) about 45 to 50 miles east (about 50 minutes); Topeka Regional (FOE) about 30 miles has limited or no scheduled airline service; no commercial airport in Lawrence (Lawrence Regional is general aviation); Wichita (ICT) about 160 miles
- Tipping
- US norms: restaurants and bars 18 to 20 percent for table service; counter service optional; bartenders $1 to $2 per drink; rideshare and taxis 15 to 20 percent; hotel housekeeping $3 to $5 per night; bellhop $2 per bag; delivery 15 to 20 percent
