Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tempe, AZ
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Tempe leads 13 of 23 categories
Tempe
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
10
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.
Tempe, AZ
Pros
45% less violent crime than Topeka
Households earn $17,970 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $257k less ($124,700 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $546/mo less ($926 vs $1,472)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Tempe
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 106°F
Cons
Violent crime (856.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tempe by $17,970/yr
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Tempe
Median Income
$17,970
$72,022 vs $54,052/yr
Tempe
Violent Crime
45% lower
470.3 vs 856.5 per 100k
Tempe
Summer Heat
17.4°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 88.5°F
Topeka
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$257k less
$124,700 vs $382,100
Topeka
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.9 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $382,100⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,022 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.8% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tempe School District (4258) | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,005 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.7% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.4% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tempe's cost of living index is 99.9 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 13 of 23 categories. Tempe wins 13 and Topeka wins 10. 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 Tempe to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($382,100 vs $124,700 median home), income ($72,022 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tempe, AZ and Topeka, KS are about 984 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.