Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Francisco, CA
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 12 of 23 categories
San Francisco
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
851,036 ✓ 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.
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $82,637 more per year on average
30% less violent crime than Topeka
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 89°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Cost of living runs 31% higher than Topeka
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $1224k less ($124,700 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1390/mo less ($926 vs $2,316)
31% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 15 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 San Francisco by $82,637/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
San Francisco
Median Income
$82,637
$136,689 vs $54,052/yr
San Francisco
Violent Crime
30% lower
596.5 vs 856.5 per 100k
Topeka
Cost of Living
31% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$1224k less
$124,700 vs $1,348,700
Topeka
Summer Heat
26.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.5°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 117.1⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,348,700⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,316⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,689 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.8 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.4% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.8% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Francisco Unified | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.0" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 851,036 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 39.3 ✓ Older | 37.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.6% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Francisco's cost of living index is 117.1 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 31% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 12 of 23 categories. San Francisco 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 San Francisco to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,348,700 vs $124,700 median home), income ($136,689 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Francisco, CA and Topeka, KS are about 1,478 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.