Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 12 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
12
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.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
14% less violent crime than Topeka
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Topeka by $5,743/yr
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $60k less ($124,700 vs $184,200)
Rent averages $117/mo less ($926 vs $1,043)
Households earn $5,743 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Knoxville
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
Knoxville
Violent Crime
14% lower
740.3 vs 856.5 per 100k
Topeka
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Income
$5,743
$54,052 vs $48,309/yr
Topeka
Median Home Value
$60k less
$124,700 vs $184,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $54,052 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ 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 | — | 12.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Topeka leads 12 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 10 and Topeka wins 12. 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 Knoxville to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $124,700 median home), income ($48,309 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Topeka, KS are about 677 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.