Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 14 of 23 categories
Renton
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Topeka
Kansas
14
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.
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $38,240 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Topeka
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Topeka
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $452k less ($124,700 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $938/mo less ($926 vs $1,864)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $38,240/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 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Median Income
$38,240
$92,292 vs $54,052/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
60% lower
339.2 vs 856.5 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.0% unemployment
Topeka
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$452k less
$124,700 vs $576,800
Topeka
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.5°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 14 of 23 categories. Renton wins 9 and Topeka wins 14. 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 Renton to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $124,700 median home), income ($92,292 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and Topeka, KS are about 1,446 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.