Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Coast, FL
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 11 of 20 categories
Palm Coast
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,824 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Topeka
Kansas
11
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.
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Households earn $14,772 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 40°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,621/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Topeka
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($124,700 vs $283,300)
Rent averages $695/mo less ($926 vs $1,621)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Palm Coast
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (856.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Palm Coast by $14,772/yr
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Coast
Median Income
$14,772
$68,824 vs $54,052/yr
Palm Coast
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.0% unemployment
Topeka
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$159k less
$124,700 vs $283,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Coast, FL | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $283,300 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,621⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,824 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 28.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FLAGLER | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,082 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 50.3 ✓ Older | 37.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.9% ✓ Higher | 59.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 29.5% ✓ More | 18.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Coast's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Topeka leads 11 of 20 categories. Palm Coast wins 9 and Topeka wins 11. 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 Palm Coast to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,300 vs $124,700 median home), income ($68,824 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Coast, FL and Topeka, KS are about 1,052 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.