Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Topeka, KS
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Topeka leads 17 of 23 categories
Topeka
Kansas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High
Population
126,431 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($124,700 vs $243,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.0%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Yakima
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $88/mo less ($926 vs $1,014)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
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
Yakima, WA
Pros
36% less violent crime than Topeka
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Topeka
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Topeka
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$119k less
$124,700 vs $243,300
Topeka
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Median Income
$1,682
$55,734 vs $54,052/yr
Yakima
Violent Crime
36% lower
544.3 vs 856.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Topeka, KS | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $124,700 ✓ Lower | $243,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $926 ✓ Lower | $1,014 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,052 | $55,734 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 17.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 225⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.0% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Topeka Public Schools | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.9" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.1" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,431 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Topeka's cost of living index is 85.9 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 17 of 23 categories. Topeka wins 17 and Yakima wins 6. 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($124,700 vs $243,300 median home), income ($54,052 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Topeka, KS and Yakima, WA are about 1,356 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.