Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 18 of 23 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0
Median Household Income
$58,850 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Topeka
Kansas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,431 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,798 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.0%)
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $110k less ($124,700 vs $234,900)
20% less violent crime than Lafayette
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Rent averages $96/mo less ($926 vs $1,022)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
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 Lafayette by $4,798/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Median Income
$4,798
$58,850 vs $54,052/yr
Topeka
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 87.0 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Violent Crime
20% lower
856.5 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Topeka
Median Home Value
$110k less
$124,700 vs $234,900
Topeka
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 225⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 18 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 5 and Topeka wins 18. 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 Lafayette to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $124,700 median home), income ($58,850 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Topeka, KS are about 645 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.