Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 17 of 23 categories
Compton
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Topeka
Kansas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,431 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Households earn $15,676 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than Topeka
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $365k less ($124,700 vs $489,400)
Rent averages $538/mo less ($926 vs $1,464)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
33% less violent crime than Compton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (856.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Compton by $15,676/yr
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Income
$15,676
$69,728 vs $54,052/yr
Topeka
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Violent Crime
33% lower
856.5 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Topeka
Median Home Value
$365k less
$124,700 vs $489,400
Topeka
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.9% unemployment
Topeka
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.5°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 225⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 28.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 17 of 23 categories. Compton wins 6 and Topeka wins 17. 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 Compton to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $124,700 median home), income ($69,728 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Topeka, KS are about 1,298 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.