Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 12 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2
Median Household Income
$55,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
12
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.
El Paso, TX
Pros
67% less violent crime than Topeka
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 40°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.0%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $35k less ($124,700 vs $159,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
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
El Paso
Median Income
$1,658
$55,710 vs $54,052/yr
El Paso
Violent Crime
67% lower
278.4 vs 856.5 per 100k
El Paso
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 88.5°F
Topeka
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 90.2 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$35k less
$124,700 vs $159,300
Topeka
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 28.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 59.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 12 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 11 and Topeka wins 12. 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 El Paso to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $124,700 median home), income ($55,710 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Topeka, KS are about 781 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.