Manhattan, KS vs Lawrence, KS
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Lawrence, KS outspends Manhattan, KS by a wide margin per resident — $50,571 versus $12,218, a 314% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Manhattan, KS holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 80/100 (grade A) against 40/100 (grade D) for Lawrence, KS — a 40-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Manhattan, KS carries the lighter load at $46 per resident versus $1,487 for Lawrence, KS. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Manhattan, KS at $1,328 per resident and in Lawrence, KS at $1,334.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Manhattan, KS at 100% of total revenue, whereas Lawrence, KS relies most on other revenue at 13%.
Summary
Lawrence spends 75.8% more per capita than Manhattan ($38,353/person difference). Manhattan, KS has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 80/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $42 | $452 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $1,646 |
| Intergovernmental | $20,434 | $610 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,350 | $2,976 |
| Other | $3,349 | $5,396 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $203 | $701 |
| Highways & Roads | $69 | $152 |
| Education | $0 | $50 |
| Public Welfare | $806 | $1,409 |
| Health | $680 | $528 |
| Hospitals | $184 | $201 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,328 | $1,334 |
| Housing | $0 | $2,611 |
| Sewerage | $173 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,330 | $3,966 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $301 |
| General Admin | $0 | $32,300 |
| Other | $6,445 | $7,016 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.