Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverview, FL
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Riverview leads 12 of 23 categories
Riverview
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,383 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
102,467
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.
Riverview, FL
Pros
85% less violent crime than Topeka
Households earn $33,331 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,757/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Topeka
Longer commutes — 34.5 min average each way
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($124,700 vs $292,700)
Rent averages $831/mo less ($926 vs $1,757)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverview
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Cons
Median income trails Riverview by $33,331/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
Riverview
Median Income
$33,331
$87,383 vs $54,052/yr
Riverview
Violent Crime
85% lower
131.1 vs 856.5 per 100k
Topeka
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$168k less
$124,700 vs $292,700
Topeka
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverview, FL | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $292,700 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,757⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,383 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.5 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,467 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.6% ✓ Higher | 59.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverview's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Riverview leads 12 of 23 categories. Riverview wins 12 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 Riverview to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($292,700 vs $124,700 median home), income ($87,383 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverview, FL and Topeka, KS are about 1,091 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.