Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Mateo, CA
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 San Mateo leads 13 of 23 categories
San Mateo
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Topeka
Kansas
10
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.
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $95,100 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Topeka
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Cost of living runs 32% higher than Topeka
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $1384k less ($124,700 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $2045/mo less ($926 vs $2,971)
32% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Commutes run 11 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 Mateo by $95,100/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 Mateo
Median Income
$95,100
$149,152 vs $54,052/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
72% lower
243.2 vs 856.5 per 100k
Topeka
Cost of Living
32% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$1384k less
$124,700 vs $1,508,900
Topeka
Summer Heat
15.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.5°F vs 72.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Mateo, CA | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,508,900⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,971⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,152 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.9% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.2% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Mateo-Foster City | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 72.6°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.3" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,165 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 37.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.4% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Mateo's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 32% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 13 of 23 categories. San Mateo wins 13 and Topeka wins 10. 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 Mateo to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,508,900 vs $124,700 median home), income ($149,152 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Mateo, CA and Topeka, KS are about 1,442 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.