Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 13 of 23 categories
Ontario
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High
Population
126,431
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ontario, CA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Topeka
Households earn $24,018 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Topeka
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $388k less ($124,700 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $900/mo less ($926 vs $1,826)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $24,018/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
Ontario
Median Income
$24,018
$78,070 vs $54,052/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
68% lower
272.2 vs 856.5 per 100k
Ontario
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 88.5°F
Topeka
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$388k less
$124,700 vs $513,000
Topeka
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 28.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 13 of 23 categories. Ontario 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 Ontario to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $124,700 median home), income ($78,070 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and Topeka, KS are about 1,261 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.