Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ 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.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
68% less violent crime than Topeka
Households earn $24,925 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Topeka
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $373k less ($124,700 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $650/mo less ($926 vs $1,576)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Collins
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $24,925/yr
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
Fort Collins
Median Income
$24,925
$78,977 vs $54,052/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
68% lower
272.7 vs 856.5 per 100k
Topeka
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$373k less
$124,700 vs $497,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 17.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $124,700 median home), income ($78,977 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Topeka, KS are about 508 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.