Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Longmont leads 14 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
Topeka
Kansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High
Population
126,431 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Households earn $35,668 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Topeka
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.1%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
Higher rents — median is $1,689/mo
Violent crime (469.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $363k less ($124,700 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $763/mo less ($926 vs $1,689)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Longmont by $35,668/yr
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
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Median Income
$35,668
$89,720 vs $54,052/yr
Longmont
Violent Crime
45% lower
469.3 vs 856.5 per 100k
Longmont
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.0% unemployment
Topeka
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$363k less
$124,700 vs $488,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ 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 | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 17.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 37.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 59.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 14 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 14 and Topeka wins 9. 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 Longmont to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $124,700 median home), income ($89,720 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Topeka, KS are about 507 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.