Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 14 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052 ✓ Higher
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.
Rochester, NY
Pros
32% less violent crime than Topeka
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Topeka by $9,896/yr
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $9,896 more per year on average
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 33°F
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
Rochester
Violent Crime
32% lower
582.3 vs 856.5 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$13k less
$111,400 vs $124,700
Topeka
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Income
$9,896
$54,052 vs $44,156/yr
Topeka
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.5% unemployment
Topeka
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.5°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $124,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $54,052 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 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 | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 17.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 14 of 23 categories. Rochester 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 Rochester to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $124,700 median home), income ($44,156 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and Topeka, KS are about 981 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.