Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Topeka, KS
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 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
Wichita Falls
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9
Median Household Income
$55,584 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
102,482
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Topeka, KS
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Wichita Falls
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
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
59% less violent crime than Topeka
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 40°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Cons
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Topeka
Key Differences at a Glance
Topeka
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 88.9 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Income
$1,532
$55,584 vs $54,052/yr
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
59% lower
350.3 vs 856.5 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 88.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Topeka, KS | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper | 88.9 |
| Median Home Value | $124,700 ✓ Lower | $128,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $926 ✓ Lower | $949 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,052 | $55,584 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 225⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.0% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Topeka Public Schools | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.5°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.9" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.1" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,431 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Topeka's cost of living index is 85.9 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 12 of 23 categories. Topeka wins 12 and Wichita Falls 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 Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($124,700 vs $128,800 median home), income ($54,052 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Topeka, KS and Wichita Falls, TX are about 388 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.