Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 15 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
Topeka
Kansas
15
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.
Manchester, NH
Pros
61% less violent crime than Topeka
Households earn $19,988 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 89°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Topeka
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $180k less ($124,700 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $436/mo less ($926 vs $1,362)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 32°F
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $19,988/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 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Median Income
$19,988
$74,040 vs $54,052/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
61% lower
336.0 vs 856.5 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.0% unemployment
Topeka
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$180k less
$124,700 vs $304,700
Topeka
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.5°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 17.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 15 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 8 and Topeka wins 15. 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 Manchester to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $124,700 median home), income ($74,040 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Topeka, KS are about 1,289 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.