Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashville-Davidson, TN
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 13 of 22 categories
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,431
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Households earn $17,276 more per year on average
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $227k less ($124,700 vs $351,400)
Rent averages $466/mo less ($926 vs $1,392)
24% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashville-Davidson
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Cons
Violent crime (856.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $17,276/yr
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$17,276
$71,328 vs $54,052/yr
Topeka
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Violent Crime
24% lower
856.5 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Topeka
Median Home Value
$227k less
$124,700 vs $351,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashville-Davidson, TN | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $351,400⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,328 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.5% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 296⚠ High | 225⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 12.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.5% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davidson County | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.7" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.7" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 684,103 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashville-Davidson's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Topeka leads 13 of 22 categories. Nashville-Davidson wins 9 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 Nashville-Davidson to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($351,400 vs $124,700 median home), income ($71,328 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashville-Davidson, TN and Topeka, KS are about 526 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.