Head-to-Head · City Comparison
High Point, NC
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 13 of 23 categories
High Point
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$58,582 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,120
Topeka
Kansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High
Population
126,431 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
High Point, NC
Pros
47% less violent crime than Topeka
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 40°F
Households earn $4,530 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.0%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $72k less ($124,700 vs $196,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.0%)
Rent averages $104/mo less ($926 vs $1,030)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than High Point
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
Median income trails High Point by $4,530/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
High Point
Median Income
$4,530
$58,582 vs $54,052/yr
High Point
Violent Crime
47% lower
454.8 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
$72k less
$124,700 vs $196,500
Topeka
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | High Point, NC | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $196,500 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,030 | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,582 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,120 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
High Point'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. High Point 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 High Point to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,500 vs $124,700 median home), income ($58,582 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
High Point, NC and Topeka, KS are about 885 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.