Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 18 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,431
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 36.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.0%)
Median income trails Topeka by $3,897/yr
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $93k less ($124,700 vs $217,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.0%)
17% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $84/mo less ($926 vs $1,010)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
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
Topeka
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Income
$3,897
$54,052 vs $50,155/yr
Topeka
Violent Crime
17% lower
856.5 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Topeka
Median Home Value
$93k less
$124,700 vs $217,700
Topeka
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $54,052 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 225⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 18 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 5 and Topeka wins 18. 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 Baton Rouge to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $124,700 median home), income ($50,155 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Topeka, KS are about 648 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.