Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pearland, TX
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Pearland leads 14 of 23 categories
Pearland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Topeka
Kansas
9
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.
Pearland, TX
Pros
Households earn $57,071 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Topeka
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $311,100
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Topeka
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $186k less ($124,700 vs $311,100)
Rent averages $696/mo less ($926 vs $1,622)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Pearland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $57,071/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
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Median Income
$57,071
$111,123 vs $54,052/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
89% lower
95.9 vs 856.5 per 100k
Pearland
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.0% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 88.5°F
Topeka
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$186k less
$124,700 vs $311,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pearland, TX | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $311,100⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,622⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $111,123 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 25 ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PEARLAND ISD | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.3" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,478 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.2 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 59.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pearland's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 14 of 23 categories. Pearland wins 14 and Topeka wins 9. 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 Pearland to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($311,100 vs $124,700 median home), income ($111,123 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pearland, TX and Topeka, KS are about 655 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.