Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 15 of 22 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$56,120 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
15
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.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 5.0%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
18% less violent crime than Kansas City
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Rent averages $118/mo less ($926 vs $1,044)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Median Income
$2,068
$56,120 vs $54,052/yr
Topeka
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Violent Crime
18% lower
856.5 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Topeka
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 225⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 28.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 59.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Topeka leads 15 of 22 categories. Kansas City wins 7 and Topeka wins 15. 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 Kansas City to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $124,700 median home), income ($56,120 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Topeka, KS are about 51 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.