Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 13 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Topeka
Kansas
13
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.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $67,487 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Topeka
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.3%)
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Topeka
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $873k less ($124,700 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1702/mo less ($926 vs $2,628)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $67,487/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 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$67,487
$121,539 vs $54,052/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
49% lower
436.7 vs 856.5 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Topeka
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$873k less
$124,700 vs $997,600
Topeka
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.5°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 17.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge'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 13 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 10 and Topeka wins 13. 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 Cambridge to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $124,700 median home), income ($121,539 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Topeka, KS are about 1,303 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.