Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Charleston leads 12 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
11
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.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Households earn $29,839 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Topeka
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $314k less ($124,700 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $591/mo less ($926 vs $1,517)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Charleston
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Cons
Median income trails Charleston by $29,839/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 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Median Income
$29,839
$83,891 vs $54,052/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
58% lower
357.6 vs 856.5 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.0% unemployment
Topeka
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$314k less
$124,700 vs $438,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ 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 (121) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 12 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 12 and Topeka wins 11. 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 Charleston to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $124,700 median home), income ($83,891 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Topeka, KS are about 977 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.