Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, IL
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 14 of 23 categories
Springfield
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214
Topeka
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,431 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Springfield, IL
Pros
Households earn $8,367 more per year on average
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.0%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
5% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Homes cost $23k less ($124,700 vs $147,700)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Springfield
Cons
Violent crime (856.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Springfield by $8,367/yr
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Springfield
Median Income
$8,367
$62,419 vs $54,052/yr
Topeka
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 90.5 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Violent Crime
5% lower
856.5 vs 901.2 per 100k
Topeka
Median Home Value
$23k less
$124,700 vs $147,700
Topeka
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Topeka
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.5°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, IL | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.5 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $147,700 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $913 ✓ Lower | $926 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,419 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.6 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 236⚠ High | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 237⚠ High | 225⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 234⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.7% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield SD 186 | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.8°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.4" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.8" | 17.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,214 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.1 ✓ Older | 37.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.4% ✓ Higher | 59.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.7% ✓ More | 18.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 90.5 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 14 of 23 categories. Springfield 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 Springfield to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($147,700 vs $124,700 median home), income ($62,419 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, IL and Topeka, KS are about 327 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.