Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 16 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,692
Topeka
Kansas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High
Population
126,431 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
5% less violent crime than Topeka
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Topeka
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.0%)
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $89k less ($124,700 vs $213,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Rent averages $204/mo less ($926 vs $1,130)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Albany
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 33°F
Cons
Violent crime (856.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Median Income
$684
$54,736 vs $54,052/yr
Albany
Violent Crime
5% lower
816.9 vs 856.5 per 100k
Topeka
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$89k less
$124,700 vs $213,400
Topeka
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.0% unemployment
Topeka
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.5°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 17.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 16 of 23 categories. Albany wins 7 and Topeka wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $124,700 median home), income ($54,736 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Topeka, KS are about 1,168 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.