Elkhart-Goshen receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Elkhart-Goshen
Lawrence
Opportunity
58 · Top 46%
vs54 · Bottom 46%
Growth
52 · Top 46%
vs44 · Bottom 39%
Climate
62 · Bottom 34%
vs62 · Bottom 37%
Physical resilience
84 · Top 10%
vs84 · Top 10%
Housing affordability
98 · Top 34%
vs82 · Bottom 22%
Access
89 · Top 26%
vs90 · Top 24%
Economic stability
67 · Top 29%
vs72 · Top 21%
Measured values
| Metric | Elkhart-Goshen | Lawrence | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 207,132 | 120,302 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $68,561 | $69,746 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,936 | $40,695 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 447/sq mi | 264/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $210,400 | $309,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,047 | $1,099 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.6% | 50.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.3% | -1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.1% | 53.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.4% | 14.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 642 | 273 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.1 | 2.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 12.0% | -22.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.6" | 35.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 25 mi | 20 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 22.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.6 | 31.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Elkhart-Goshen
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Lawrence
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Elkhart-Goshen
73
Your Score
71
Area Score
Lawrence
70
Your Score
67
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Elkhart-Goshen, IN Metro Area · Lawrence, KS Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology