Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Vegas, NV
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Las Vegas leads 12 of 23 categories
Las Vegas
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,356 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
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.
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
50% less violent crime than Topeka
Households earn $12,304 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $365,300
Higher rents — median is $1,356/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Topeka
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $241k less ($124,700 vs $365,300)
Rent averages $430/mo less ($926 vs $1,356)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.0%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Las Vegas
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 104°F
Cons
Violent crime (856.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Las Vegas by $12,304/yr
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Vegas
Median Income
$12,304
$66,356 vs $54,052/yr
Las Vegas
Violent Crime
50% lower
429.8 vs 856.5 per 100k
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 88.5°F
Topeka
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$241k less
$124,700 vs $365,300
Topeka
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.6⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $365,300⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,356⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,356 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.9 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 | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.3% | 28.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.1" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 644,835 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 37.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Vegas's cost of living index is 101.6 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Vegas leads 12 of 23 categories. Las Vegas wins 12 and Topeka wins 11. 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 Las Vegas to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($365,300 vs $124,700 median home), income ($66,356 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Vegas, NV and Topeka, KS are about 1,086 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.