Lawrence, KS vs Topeka, KS
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Lawrence, KS outspends Topeka, KS by a wide margin per resident — $50,571 versus $14,435, a 250% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Topeka, KS holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 87/100 (grade A) against 40/100 (grade D) for Lawrence, KS — a 47-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Topeka, KS carries the lighter load at $30 per resident versus $1,487 for Lawrence, KS. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Lawrence, KS leads with parks and recreation at $1,334 per resident, while Topeka, KS leads with highways and roads at $353.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Lawrence, KS at 13% of total revenue, whereas Topeka, KS relies most on charges and fees at 19%.
Summary
Lawrence spends 250.3% more per capita than Topeka ($36,136/person difference). Topeka, KS has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 87/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $823 |
| Sales Tax | $452 | $182 |
| Income Tax | $1,646 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $610 | $3,030 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,976 | $6,883 |
| Other | $5,396 | $4,080 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $701 | $190 |
| Highways & Roads | $152 | $353 |
| Education | $50 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,409 | $3,253 |
| Health | $528 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $201 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,334 | $55 |
| Housing | $2,611 | $3,032 |
| Utilities | $3,966 | $3,548 |
| Interest on Debt | $301 | $663 |
| General Admin | $32,300 | $0 |
| Other | $7,016 | $3,342 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.