An advertising billboard on the south side of Interstate 70, between Lawrence and Topeka, seeks to attract homebuyers to the Topeka area. Topeka's More

The sporadic, low-level rivalry between Topeka and Lawrence has moved into the arena of home-buying.

Topeka’s “More for Your Lifestyle” campaign is aimed at getting folks in Lawrence to take a look at moving to Topeka for its lower housing costs.

“It has created some conversation,” said Marsha Sheahan, vice president of public relations for the Topeka Chamber of Commerce.

Sheahan said it’s a soft campaign and difficult to judge its effectiveness, but added, “I’ve heard anecdotal stories of people who have chosen to live in Topeka over Lawrence.

“We know our housing sales have been brisk here,” she said.

The two cities lie approximately 25 miles apart.

Last year, the two cities feuded briefly after Mike Elwell, owner of Abe & Jake’s Landing in Lawrence, said that many of the crime problems in the nightlife scene in Lawrence come from people from Topeka.

That caused some backlash from Topeka officials, which prompted the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce to issues a series of advertisements aimed at telling Topekans they were welcome in Lawrence.

But Lawrence residents also are welcome in Topeka, particularly if they want to move to the capital city, Sheahan said.

Topeka has the fifth-lowest housing costs in the nation, according to the Coldwell Banker Home Price Comparison Index from 2006.

In that study, the average sale price for a four-bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, 2,200 square-foot house with a two-car garage was $148,050 in Topeka. In Lawrence, it was $247,450, according to the study.

Sheahan said the campaign hasn’t stirred any ill will among Lawrence officials.

“We’re all friends. We’re careful about what we say. We are able to document the national cost-of-living study,” she said.

Bobbie Flory, executive director of the Lawrence Home Builders Association, said she has not detected any effect by the Topeka campaign on home buying in Lawrence.

“People live in Lawrence because there are so many positive attributes that our town offers – downtown, the college, and being midway between Kansas City and Topeka,” Flory said.

Flory said she didn’t resent Topeka officials trying to drum up business in Lawrence.

“Communities are getting creative trying to improve their economic standing, and draw people in. They’re (Topeka) doing what they should be doing as a chamber,” she said.

But the difference in housing costs is a concern, she said.

She said much of that difference can be attributed to the higher cost of the development process in Lawrence.

“The basic building materials are the same for everyone. The big difference is the development cost,” she said.

She said Lawrence city officials have tried to streamline the development process, but it will take an ongoing effort.

Lavern Squier, president and chief executive officer of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, said he hadn’t heard of anyone lured to Topeka by the less expensive housing costs.

“Lawrence is a great community and destination for people, and that influences people’s decisions,” he said.