Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Topeka, KS
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Topeka leads 14 of 21 categories
Topeka
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High
Population
126,431 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,797
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $104k less ($124,700 vs $228,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $6,795 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Tuscaloosa
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
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
35% less violent crime than Topeka
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 40°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Topeka by $6,795/yr
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Topeka
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 90.0 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Income
$6,795
$54,052 vs $47,257/yr
Topeka
Median Home Value
$104k less
$124,700 vs $228,300
Topeka
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Violent Crime
35% lower
553.4 vs 856.5 per 100k
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 88.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Topeka, KS | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper | 90.0 |
| Median Home Value | $124,700 ✓ Lower | $228,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $926 ✓ Lower | $980 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,052 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 18.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 225⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.0% | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Topeka Public Schools | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.5°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.9" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,431 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Topeka's cost of living index is 85.9 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Topeka leads 14 of 21 categories. Topeka wins 14 and Tuscaloosa 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 Topeka to Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($124,700 vs $228,300 median home), income ($54,052 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Topeka, KS and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 606 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.