Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Topeka, KS
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Topeka leads 12 of 23 categories
Topeka
Kansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High
Population
126,431 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $493k less ($124,700 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $1236/mo less ($926 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 26 min shorter each way
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Tracy
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $57,665/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
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,665 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Topeka
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Topeka
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Topeka
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$493k less
$124,700 vs $617,300
Tracy
Median Income
$57,665
$111,717 vs $54,052/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
65% lower
301.4 vs 856.5 per 100k
Tracy
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 88.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Topeka, KS | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $124,700 ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $926 ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,052 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 225⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.0% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Topeka Public Schools | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.5°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.9" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,431 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.0% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Topeka's cost of living index is 85.9 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 12 of 23 categories. Topeka wins 12 and Tracy wins 11. 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($124,700 vs $617,300 median home), income ($54,052 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Topeka, KS and Tracy, CA are about 1,393 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.