Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Topeka, KS
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 12 of 23 categories
Topeka
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High
Population
126,431
Wichita
Kansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5
Median Household Income
$60,712 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
395,951 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $42k less ($124,700 vs $166,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
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 Wichita
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 Wichita by $6,660/yr
Wichita, KS
Pros
37% less violent crime than Topeka
Households earn $6,660 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.7% 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
Median Home Value
$42k less
$124,700 vs $166,400
Topeka
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Wichita
Median Income
$6,660
$60,712 vs $54,052/yr
Wichita
Violent Crime
37% lower
538.6 vs 856.5 per 100k
Wichita
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 88.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Topeka, KS | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper | 89.5 |
| Median Home Value | $124,700 ✓ Lower | $166,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $926 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,052 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 18.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 225⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.0% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Topeka Public Schools | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.5°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.9" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.1" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,431 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Topeka's cost of living index is 85.9 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 12 of 23 categories. Topeka wins 11 and Wichita wins 12. 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 or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($124,700 vs $166,400 median home), income ($54,052 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Topeka, KS and Wichita, KS are about 129 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.