Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. George, UT
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 St. George leads 16 of 23 categories
St. George
Utah
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$69,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Topeka
Kansas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High
Population
126,431 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
St. George, UT
Pros
75% less violent crime than Topeka
Households earn $15,281 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 32.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Higher rents — median is $1,335/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Topeka
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $291k less ($124,700 vs $415,200)
Rent averages $409/mo less ($926 vs $1,335)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than St. George
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 102°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (856.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails St. George by $15,281/yr
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
St. George
Median Income
$15,281
$69,333 vs $54,052/yr
St. George
Violent Crime
75% lower
210.0 vs 856.5 per 100k
St. George
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
13.4°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 88.5°F
Topeka
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$291k less
$124,700 vs $415,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. George, UT | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $415,200⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,335⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,333 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter | 17.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 55 ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.1:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.6% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washington District | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.3" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,174 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.7% ✓ Higher | 59.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 22.6% ✓ More | 18.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. George's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 16 of 23 categories. St. George wins 16 and Topeka wins 7. 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 St. George to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($415,200 vs $124,700 median home), income ($69,333 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. George, UT and Topeka, KS are about 981 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.