Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 16 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5
Median Household Income
$62,994 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
16
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.
Columbus, OH
Pros
49% less violent crime than Topeka
Households earn $8,942 more per year on average
More college-educated — 38.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($124,700 vs $212,500)
Rent averages $235/mo less ($926 vs $1,161)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Columbus
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (856.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Columbus by $8,942/yr
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Median Income
$8,942
$62,994 vs $54,052/yr
Columbus
Violent Crime
49% lower
434.9 vs 856.5 per 100k
Topeka
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 94.5 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$88k less
$124,700 vs $212,500
Topeka
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.5°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ 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 | 114⚠ 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 | B (97) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 17.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 16 of 23 categories. Columbus 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 Columbus to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $124,700 median home), income ($62,994 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Topeka, KS are about 680 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.