Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ 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.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
69% less violent crime than Topeka
Households earn $12,035 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $123k less ($124,700 vs $247,900)
Rent averages $139/mo less ($926 vs $1,065)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (856.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $12,035/yr
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$12,035
$66,087 vs $54,052/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
69% lower
262.0 vs 856.5 per 100k
Topeka
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$123k less
$124,700 vs $247,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 11 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 Lexington-Fayette urban county to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $124,700 median home), income ($66,087 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Topeka, KS are about 611 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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