Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Topeka, KS
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Topeka leads 13 of 23 categories
Topeka
Kansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High
Population
126,431
Vancouver
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $279k less ($124,700 vs $403,400)
Rent averages $599/mo less ($926 vs $1,525)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Cons
Median income trails Vancouver by $19,574/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
Vancouver, WA
Pros
32% less violent crime than Topeka
Households earn $19,574 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 89°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Topeka
Key Differences at a Glance
Topeka
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$279k less
$124,700 vs $403,400
Topeka
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Topeka
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.5°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Median Income
$19,574
$73,626 vs $54,052/yr
Vancouver
Violent Crime
32% lower
582.3 vs 856.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Topeka, KS | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $124,700 ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $926 ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,052 | $73,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 225⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.0% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Topeka Public Schools | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.9" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.1" | 4.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,431 | 190,700 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Topeka's cost of living index is 85.9 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 13 of 23 categories. Topeka wins 13 and Vancouver 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 Topeka to Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($124,700 vs $403,400 median home), income ($54,052 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Topeka, KS and Vancouver, WA are about 1,440 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.