Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Topeka
Kansas
9
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.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $81,556 more per year on average
93% less violent crime than Topeka
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Topeka
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $813k less ($124,700 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1324/mo less ($926 vs $2,250)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $81,556/yr
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
Kirkland
Median Income
$81,556
$135,608 vs $54,052/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
93% lower
60.6 vs 856.5 per 100k
Topeka
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$813k less
$124,700 vs $937,700
Topeka
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.5°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 12.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 37.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 59.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 13 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 13 and Topeka wins 9. 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 Kirkland to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $124,700 median home), income ($135,608 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Topeka, KS are about 1,450 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.