Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Topeka, KS
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 13 of 23 categories
Topeka
Kansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High
Population
126,431
Torrance
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
145,454 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $838k less ($124,700 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $1206/mo less ($926 vs $2,132)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Commutes run 11 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 Torrance by $55,502/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
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $55,502 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Topeka
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than Topeka
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Topeka
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$838k less
$124,700 vs $962,300
Topeka
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.5°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$55,502
$109,554 vs $54,052/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
64% lower
311.2 vs 856.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Topeka, KS | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $124,700 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $926 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,052 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 225⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.0% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Topeka Public Schools | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.9" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,431 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 17.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Topeka's cost of living index is 85.9 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 13 of 23 categories. Topeka wins 10 and Torrance 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 Topeka to Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($124,700 vs $962,300 median home), income ($54,052 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Topeka, KS and Torrance, CA are about 1,306 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.