Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Lincoln leads 12 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ 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.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
59% less violent crime than Topeka
Households earn $13,794 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.3%)
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $106k less ($124,700 vs $230,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Lincoln
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 Lincoln by $13,794/yr
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Median Income
$13,794
$67,846 vs $54,052/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
59% lower
347.9 vs 856.5 per 100k
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Topeka
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 92.0 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$106k less
$124,700 vs $230,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 17.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 12 of 23 categories. Lincoln 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 Lincoln to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $124,700 median home), income ($67,846 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Topeka, KS are about 133 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.