Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 14 of 21 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$59,110 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
14
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.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Households earn $5,058 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
More college-educated — 33.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $60k less ($124,700 vs $184,600)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Rent averages $120/mo less ($926 vs $1,046)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Indianapolis
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
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 Indianapolis by $5,058/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Median Income
$5,058
$59,110 vs $54,052/yr
Topeka
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Violent Crime
2% lower
856.5 vs 877.9 per 100k
Topeka
Median Home Value
$60k less
$124,700 vs $184,600
Topeka
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Topeka
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.5°F vs 83.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 225⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 | 12.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" | 17.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Topeka leads 14 of 21 categories. Indianapolis wins 7 and Topeka wins 14. 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 Indianapolis to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $124,700 median home), income ($59,110 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Topeka, KS are about 512 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.