Canton-Massillon receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Lawrence
Canton-Massillon
Opportunity
54 · Bottom 46%
vs58 · Top 43%
Growth
44 · Bottom 39%
vs44 · Bottom 40%
Climate
62 · Bottom 37%
vs63 · Bottom 41%
Physical resilience
84 · Top 10%
vs90 · Top 4%
Housing affordability
82 · Bottom 22%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
90 · Top 24%
vs95 · Top 14%
Economic stability
72 · Top 21%
vs63 · Top 34%
Measured values
| Metric | Lawrence | Canton-Massillon | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 120,302 | 400,372 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $69,746 | $67,801 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $40,695 | $36,664 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 264/sq mi | 413/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $309,400 | $186,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,099 | $908 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 50.1% | 69.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.6% | -0.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.2% | 25.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.7% | 12.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 273 | 655 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.3 | 1.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -22.7% | 18.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 20°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 35.6" | 41.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 20 mi | 17 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 23.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 31.6 | 42.1 | 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
Lawrence
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Canton-Massillon
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.
Lawrence
70
Your Score
67
Area Score
Canton-Massillon
73
Your Score
72
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Lawrence, KS Metro Area · Canton-Massillon, OH Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology