Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, MO
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 15 of 23 categories
Springfield
Missouri
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,431
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Springfield, MO
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Topeka by $10,602/yr
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
27% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $10,602 more per year on average
Homes cost $22k less ($124,700 vs $146,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Springfield
Cons
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
Topeka
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 89.3 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Income
$10,602
$54,052 vs $43,450/yr
Topeka
Violent Crime
27% lower
856.5 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Topeka
Median Home Value
$22k less
$124,700 vs $146,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, MO | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $146,400 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $878 ✓ Lower | $926 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,450 | $54,052 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.1 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 266⚠ High | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 310⚠ High | 225⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SPRINGFIELD R-XII | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.5" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,873 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 33.3 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 15 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 8 and Topeka wins 15. 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 ($146,400 vs $124,700 median home), income ($43,450 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, MO and Topeka, KS are about 182 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.