Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Grand Rapids, MI
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 17 of 23 categories
Grand Rapids
Michigan
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$61,634 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Households earn $7,582 more per year on average
More college-educated — 39.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Cons
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Topeka
Snowy winters — about 75" of snow per year
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($124,700 vs $203,900)
6% less violent crime than Grand Rapids
Rent averages $212/mo less ($926 vs $1,138)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Grand Rapids
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Cons
Violent crime (856.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Grand Rapids by $7,582/yr
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Grand Rapids
Median Income
$7,582
$61,634 vs $54,052/yr
Topeka
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Violent Crime
6% lower
856.5 vs 910.1 per 100k
Topeka
Median Home Value
$79k less
$124,700 vs $203,900
Topeka
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Topeka
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.5°F vs 82.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Grand Rapids, MI | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.2 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $203,900 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,138 | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,634 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 240⚠ High | 225⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.3% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Grand Rapids Public Schools | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.4°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.6" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 74.9" | 17.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,096 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.5% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Rapids's cost of living index is 95.2 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 17 of 23 categories. Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($203,900 vs $124,700 median home), income ($61,634 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Grand Rapids, MI and Topeka, KS are about 589 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.