Contributing to Lawrence's lower-than-average cost-of-living is the town's affordable real estate, which comes in all shapes and sizes.  The median home price is $143,000, and as in most other parts of the country, the current market is favoring buyers rather than sellers.  Residences priced at $250,000 and higher are staying on the market longer and may be the best place to find deals.  The National Trust for Historic Preservation has previously named Lawrence one of its Dozen Distinctive Destinations; during the Civil War, a wealthy section of town, Old West Lawrence, once destroyed by pro-slavery raiders and then rebuilt, is today a delightful neighborhood of historic homes.  

Rentals are plentiful, but many are taken by students.  The average two-bedroom apartment is roughly $650 per month.  There are seven mobile home parks, one of which, Park Hill, is for those 55+.  

Property taxes are based on mills.  One mill is equivalent to one dollar for every thousand dollars of assessed property value. Most property owners within the city limits have a levy of 107.25 mills. The appraised value of a home is multiplied by 11.5%, and that number is multiplied by 107.5.  The annual taxes on a $175,000 home would be $2,163.   The Kansas sales tax is 5.3%.  Social Security is exempt for residents with a federal adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less, and for tax year 2008 and thereafter, taxpayers with incomes of $75,000 or less will be exempt from any state tax on their Social security benefits.

The city covers roughly 28 acres with the beautiful University of Kansas (known as KU and with a student population of 25,000) at its center on a hill named Mt. Oread.  Two rivers, the Kansas River and the Wakarusa River, flow through town giving it the nickname of "River City."   There are 52 public parks, and 7000-acre Clinton Lake, just west of town, has been ranked as one of the top 50 lakes for boaters.  The area also has hiking and mountain biking trails, camper hookups, primitive camping areas, picnic areas, fishing platforms, playing fields and a swimming beach.   

For golfers, Alvamar Golf Course has consistently been listed as one of the top 100 public courses by Golf Digest; the city has numerous other courses as well.  And, of course, KU is the home of the Jayhawks, a powerhouse in men's basketball.  There are plenty of sports bars in which to watch the games, and the entire city comes to standstill when the Jayhawks are playing.  In addition, the Kansas City Chiefs (football) and Royals (baseball) play just down the road.

This is a university community, so retirees are able to partake in a smorgasbord of cultural, sporting and educational activities.  The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, a KU think tank that studies public policy and politics, presents speakers and conferences; KU's Lied Center mounts live dance and theater performances; the Spencer Museum of Art offers rotating exhibits, and the Lawrence Community Theater is the place for local talent.  According to The National Endowment for the Arts, Lawrence has a large percentage of professional artists in its work force; in other words, it has a lively arts and music scene.  Liberty Hall, a restored 19th Century opera house, features live entertainment and artsy cinema.

The city sponsors summer concerts, and many a future rock star has made his or her debut in one of Lawrence's downtown pubs.  The nationally known annual KU Jazz Festival brings world-class jazz musicians to town.     The yearly Lawrence ArtWalk features 90 local artists and self-guided tours of galleries and studios not normally open to the public.  Lawrence is also home to Haskell Indian Nations University, which is a Native American college, and its presence adds more culture and diversity to the city.

Lawrence, Kansas Continued....