Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Charlotte leads 12 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
875,045 ✓ 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.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Households earn $20,018 more per year on average
14% less violent crime than Topeka
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,800
Higher rents — median is $1,399/mo
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $188k less ($124,700 vs $312,800)
Rent averages $473/mo less ($926 vs $1,399)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Charlotte
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Charlotte by $20,018/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
Charlotte
Median Income
$20,018
$74,070 vs $54,052/yr
Charlotte
Violent Crime
14% lower
733.2 vs 856.5 per 100k
Topeka
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$188k less
$124,700 vs $312,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charlotte leads 12 of 23 categories. Charlotte 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 Charlotte to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $124,700 median home), income ($74,070 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Topeka, KS are about 859 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.