Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Plano, TX
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Plano leads 14 of 23 categories
Plano
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
9
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.
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $51,627 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Topeka
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $288k less ($124,700 vs $412,500)
Rent averages $773/mo less ($926 vs $1,699)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $51,627/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
Plano
Median Income
$51,627
$105,679 vs $54,052/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
82% lower
151.6 vs 856.5 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 88.5°F
Topeka
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$288k less
$124,700 vs $412,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Plano, TX | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $412,500⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,699⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,679 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.8 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.3% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (134) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.4% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PLANO ISD | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,948 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 38.9 ✓ Older | 37.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Plano's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 14 of 23 categories. Plano 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 Plano to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($412,500 vs $124,700 median home), income ($105,679 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Plano, TX and Topeka, KS are about 418 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.