Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Topeka, KS
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Topeka leads 15 of 23 categories
Topeka
Kansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,431
Tulsa
Oklahoma
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5
Median Household Income
$56,648 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High
Population
411,938 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $50k less ($124,700 vs $174,200)
9% less violent crime than Tulsa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Median income trails Tulsa by $2,596/yr
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 40°F
Households earn $2,596 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (941.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3627.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Topeka
Key Differences at a Glance
Topeka
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 89.5 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Violent Crime
9% lower
856.5 vs 941.9 per 100k
Topeka
Median Home Value
$50k less
$124,700 vs $174,200
Topeka
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Tulsa
Median Income
$2,596
$56,648 vs $54,052/yr
Tulsa
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 88.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Topeka, KS | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper | 89.5 |
| Median Home Value | $124,700 ✓ Lower | $174,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $926 ✓ Lower | $958 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,052 | $56,648 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 225⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.0% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Topeka Public Schools | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.5°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.9" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.1" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,431 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 52.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Topeka's cost of living index is 85.9 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 15 of 23 categories. Topeka wins 15 and Tulsa wins 8. 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 Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($124,700 vs $174,200 median home), income ($54,052 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Topeka, KS and Tulsa, OK are about 201 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.