Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Ana, CA
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 14 of 23 categories
Santa Ana
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
14
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.
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,158 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Topeka
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than Topeka
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $499k less ($124,700 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $959/mo less ($926 vs $1,885)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Santa Ana by $30,158/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
Santa Ana
Median Income
$30,158
$84,210 vs $54,052/yr
Santa Ana
Violent Crime
42% lower
493.1 vs 856.5 per 100k
Topeka
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$499k less
$124,700 vs $624,000
Topeka
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Topeka
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.5°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Ana, CA | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,000⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,885⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,210 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.9% | 28.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 65.2% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Ana Unified | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 311,379 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Ana's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 14 of 23 categories. Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,000 vs $124,700 median home), income ($84,210 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Ana, CA and Topeka, KS are about 1,284 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.