Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Broken Arrow, OK
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Broken Arrow leads 13 of 23 categories
Broken Arrow
Oklahoma
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5
Median Household Income
$82,547 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
114,237
Topeka
Kansas
10
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.
Broken Arrow, OK
Pros
74% less violent crime than Topeka
Households earn $28,495 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (223.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $86k less ($124,700 vs $210,800)
Rent averages $257/mo less ($926 vs $1,183)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Broken Arrow by $28,495/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
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Broken Arrow
Median Income
$28,495
$82,547 vs $54,052/yr
Broken Arrow
Violent Crime
74% lower
223.1 vs 856.5 per 100k
Broken Arrow
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Broken Arrow
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 88.5°F
Topeka
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 89.5 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$86k less
$124,700 vs $210,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Broken Arrow, OK | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $210,800 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,183 | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,547 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROKEN ARROW | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.7" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,237 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% ✓ Higher | 59.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Broken Arrow's cost of living index is 89.5 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Broken Arrow leads 13 of 23 categories. Broken Arrow wins 13 and Topeka wins 10. 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 Broken Arrow to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,800 vs $124,700 median home), income ($82,547 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Broken Arrow, OK and Topeka, KS are about 207 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.