Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 13 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ 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.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $20k less ($104,900 vs $124,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 40°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Topeka by $11,859/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.0%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $11,859 more per year on average
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
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Jackson
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
Jackson
Median Home Value
$20k less
$104,900 vs $124,700
Jackson
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 88.5°F
Topeka
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 90.7 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Income
$11,859
$54,052 vs $42,193/yr
Topeka
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $124,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $54,052 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Topeka leads 13 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 7 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 Jackson to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $124,700 median home), income ($42,193 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Topeka, KS are about 557 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.