Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Seattle, WA
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 13 of 23 categories
Seattle
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
13
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.
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $62,016 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% less violent crime than Topeka
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Topeka
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $755k less ($124,700 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $1019/mo less ($926 vs $1,945)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Commutes run 10 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 Seattle by $62,016/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
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Seattle
Median Income
$62,016
$116,068 vs $54,052/yr
Seattle
Violent Crime
10% lower
775.1 vs 856.5 per 100k
Seattle
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.0% unemployment
Topeka
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$755k less
$124,700 vs $879,900
Topeka
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.5°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Seattle, WA | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $879,900⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,945⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,068 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 238⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.7% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Seattle School District No. 1 | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.5" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 734,603 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.5% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Seattle's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 13 of 23 categories. Seattle wins 10 and Topeka wins 13. 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 Seattle to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($879,900 vs $124,700 median home), income ($116,068 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Seattle, WA and Topeka, KS are about 1,456 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.