Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Reading, PA
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 18 of 23 categories
Reading
Pennsylvania
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
94,601
Topeka
Kansas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052 ✓ Higher
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.
Reading, PA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Topeka
Homes cost $28k less ($96,900 vs $124,700)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Topeka by $11,200/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 5.0%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.3 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $11,200 more per year on average
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Reading
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Reading
Violent Crime
61% lower
337.2 vs 856.5 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$28k less
$96,900 vs $124,700
Topeka
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 92.5 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Income
$11,200
$54,052 vs $42,852/yr
Topeka
Unemployment
6.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 11.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Reading, PA | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.5 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $96,900 ✓ Lower | $124,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,852 | $54,052 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.3%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.7% | 28.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 71.6% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Reading SD | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.6°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.2" | 17.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,601 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.1 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Reading's cost of living index is 92.5 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 18 of 23 categories. Reading wins 5 and Topeka wins 18. 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 Reading to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($96,900 vs $124,700 median home), income ($42,852 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Reading, PA and Topeka, KS are about 1,053 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.