Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 13 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
13
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.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
18% less violent crime than Topeka
Households earn $8,326 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.0%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $46k less ($124,700 vs $170,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 31°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Des Moines
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 Des Moines by $8,326/yr
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Median Income
$8,326
$62,378 vs $54,052/yr
Des Moines
Violent Crime
18% lower
703.0 vs 856.5 per 100k
Topeka
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$46k less
$124,700 vs $170,700
Topeka
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 17.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 59.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 13 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 10 and Topeka wins 13. 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 Des Moines to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $124,700 median home), income ($62,378 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Topeka, KS are about 207 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.