Kansas City vs Topeka
Kansas City, Kansas versus Topeka, Kansas: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Kansas City edges out Topeka on overall objective livability (50 vs 46 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Kansas City | Topeka |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $56k | $54k |
| Cost of Living | $47k | $44k |
| Home Value | $134k | $125k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $926 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.55% | 1.55% |
| Income Tax | 5.70% | 5.70% |
| Sales Tax | 8.75% | 8.75% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 12.28% | 12.17% |
| Unemployment | 6.0% | 5.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 30°F | 30°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 80°F | 80°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1 in | 37.9 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0 in | 17.1 in |
| Sunny Days | 260 days | 275 days |
| Summer Humidity | 67°F | 67°F |
| Comfortable Days | 76 days | 61 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 56.3 | 55.6 |
| Air Quality | 47 AQI | 52 AQI |
| School Quality | 66.2 | 65.8 |
| Violent Crime | 537/100k | 2547/100k |
| Property Crime | 303/100k | 3708/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 155,438 | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.9 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.69 | 0.45 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.02 | 0.93 |
| Political Leaning | D+32 | Even |
| White (%) | 36.4% | 66.1% |
| Black (%) | 21.5% | 9.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 31.6% | 16.4% |
| Asian (%) | 5.4% | 1.7% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.1% | 6.0% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 22 min | 17 min |
| Walkability | 11.6/20 | 12.7/20 |
| Airport Distance | 12 mi | 57 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 84.9% | 80.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 3.86 | 22.38 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Kansas City or Topeka more affordable?
- Topeka has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Kansas City's $47k and Topeka's $44k. Median rent is $1k in Kansas City versus $926 in Topeka.
- Is Kansas City or Topeka safer?
- Kansas City has the lower violent crime rate. Kansas City reports 537/100k and Topeka reports 2547/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Kansas City or Topeka?
- The median home value is $134k in Kansas City and $125k in Topeka, so homes are more affordable in Topeka.