Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Charleston, SC
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 15 of 23 categories
North Charleston
South Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2
Median Household Income
$58,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
115,755
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.
North Charleston, SC
Pros
5% less violent crime than Topeka
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 40°F
Households earn $4,482 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (810.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Topeka
Property crime (3955.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($124,700 vs $243,300)
Rent averages $362/mo less ($926 vs $1,288)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than North Charleston
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Cons
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 4.3%)
Median income trails North Charleston by $4,482/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
North Charleston
Median Income
$4,482
$58,534 vs $54,052/yr
North Charleston
Violent Crime
5% lower
810.5 vs 856.5 per 100k
North Charleston
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Topeka
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$119k less
$124,700 vs $243,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Charleston, SC | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.2 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,300 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,288 | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,534 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.6 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 28.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.6" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,755 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Charleston's cost of living index is 98.2 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 15 of 23 categories. North Charleston 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 North Charleston to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,300 vs $124,700 median home), income ($58,534 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Charleston, SC and Topeka, KS are about 969 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.