Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sacramento, CA
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 12 of 23 categories
Sacramento
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
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.
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,902 more per year on average
12% less violent crime than Topeka
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $326k less ($124,700 vs $450,500)
Rent averages $666/mo less ($926 vs $1,592)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Cons
Median income trails Sacramento by $24,902/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
Sacramento
Median Income
$24,902
$78,954 vs $54,052/yr
Sacramento
Violent Crime
12% lower
754.9 vs 856.5 per 100k
Sacramento
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 88.5°F
Topeka
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$326k less
$124,700 vs $450,500
Topeka
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sacramento, CA | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $450,500⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,592⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,954 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ 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 | 22.0:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sacramento City Unified | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.4" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 523,600 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.7% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sacramento's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 12 of 23 categories. Sacramento wins 11 and Topeka wins 12. 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 Sacramento to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($450,500 vs $124,700 median home), income ($78,954 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sacramento, CA and Topeka, KS are about 1,384 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.