Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 14 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High
Population
126,431
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $35,160 more per year on average
27% less violent crime than Topeka
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Topeka
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $560k less ($124,700 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $1055/mo less ($926 vs $1,981)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $35,160/yr
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
Boston
Median Income
$35,160
$89,212 vs $54,052/yr
Boston
Violent Crime
27% lower
627.9 vs 856.5 per 100k
Topeka
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$560k less
$124,700 vs $684,900
Topeka
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Topeka
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.5°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 17.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 14 of 23 categories. Boston wins 9 and Topeka wins 14. 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 Boston to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $124,700 median home), income ($89,212 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Topeka, KS are about 1,308 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.