Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 15 of 23 categories
Roanoke
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,213
Topeka
Kansas
15
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.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
28% less violent crime than Topeka
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 40°F
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.0%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $37k less ($124,700 vs $162,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Roanoke
Households earn $2,529 more per year on average
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
Roanoke
Violent Crime
28% lower
620.4 vs 856.5 per 100k
Topeka
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 90.9 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Income
$2,529
$54,052 vs $51,523/yr
Topeka
Median Home Value
$37k less
$124,700 vs $162,000
Topeka
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $926 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $54,052 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 28.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 37.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.6% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 15 of 23 categories. Roanoke wins 8 and Topeka wins 15. 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 Roanoke to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $124,700 median home), income ($51,523 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and Topeka, KS are about 862 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.