Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashua, NH
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 13 of 23 categories
Nashua
New Hampshire
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
90,943
Topeka
Kansas
13
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.
Nashua, NH
Pros
81% less violent crime than Topeka
Households earn $34,714 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $344,900
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Topeka
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $220k less ($124,700 vs $344,900)
Rent averages $671/mo less ($926 vs $1,597)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 35°F
Cons
Median income trails Nashua by $34,714/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashua
Median Income
$34,714
$88,766 vs $54,052/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
81% lower
160.5 vs 856.5 per 100k
Topeka
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$220k less
$124,700 vs $344,900
Topeka
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.5°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashua, NH | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.1⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $344,900⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,766 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.9 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.4% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Nashua School District | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.9" | 17.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,943 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.1 ✓ Older | 37.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.4% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashua's cost of living index is 106.1 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 13 of 23 categories. Nashua wins 10 and Topeka wins 13. 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 Nashua to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($344,900 vs $124,700 median home), income ($88,766 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashua, NH and Topeka, KS are about 1,285 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.