Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 13 of 22 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
13
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.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
23% less violent crime than Topeka
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 40°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.0%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.0%)
Homes cost $34k less ($124,700 vs $158,500)
Rent averages $191/mo less ($926 vs $1,117)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Fayetteville
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
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
23% lower
660.2 vs 856.5 per 100k
Topeka
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Income
$628
$54,052 vs $53,424/yr
Topeka
Median Home Value
$34k less
$124,700 vs $158,500
Topeka
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $54,052 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ 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 | 16.8:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Topeka leads 13 of 22 categories. Fayetteville wins 9 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 Fayetteville to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $124,700 median home), income ($53,424 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Topeka, KS are about 960 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.