Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Clarita, CA
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 13 of 22 categories
Santa Clarita
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
225,850 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
9
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 Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $62,134 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Topeka
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than Topeka
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $545k less ($124,700 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $1389/mo less ($926 vs $2,315)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $62,134/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 Clarita
Median Income
$62,134
$116,186 vs $54,052/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
81% lower
165.4 vs 856.5 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 88.5°F
Topeka
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$545k less
$124,700 vs $669,200
Topeka
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Clarita, CA | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $669,200⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,315⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,186 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.2 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 26.5:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.7% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.0% | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saugus Union | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.5" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,850 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.1% ✓ Higher | 59.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Clarita'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 22 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 13 of 22 categories. Santa Clarita wins 13 and Topeka wins 9. 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 Clarita to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($669,200 vs $124,700 median home), income ($116,186 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Clarita, CA and Topeka, KS are about 1,299 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.