Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 16 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052 ✓ Higher
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.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.0%)
Median income trails Topeka by $4,861/yr
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $67k less ($124,700 vs $192,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Households earn $4,861 more per year on average
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Cincinnati
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Cons
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
Cincinnati
Violent Crime
1% lower
845.6 vs 856.5 per 100k
Topeka
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 94.1 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Income
$4,861
$54,052 vs $49,191/yr
Topeka
Median Home Value
$67k less
$124,700 vs $192,000
Topeka
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $926 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $54,052 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 16 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 7 and Topeka wins 16. 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 Cincinnati to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $124,700 median home), income ($49,191 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Topeka, KS are about 600 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.