Manhattan vs Topeka
Manhattan, 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.
Manhattan edges out Topeka on overall objective livability (52 vs 46 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Manhattan | Topeka |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $55k | $54k |
| Cost of Living | $46k | $44k |
| Home Value | $242k | $125k |
| Monthly Rent | $977 | $926 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.52% | 1.55% |
| Income Tax | 5.70% | 5.70% |
| Sales Tax | 8.75% | 8.75% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 15.25% | 12.17% |
| Unemployment | 4.5% | 5.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 30°F | 30°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 79°F | 80°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.8 in | 37.9 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6 in | 17.1 in |
| Sunny Days | 275 days | 275 days |
| Summer Humidity | 67°F | 67°F |
| Comfortable Days | 59 days | 61 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 49.3 | 55.6 |
| Air Quality | 52 AQI | 52 AQI |
| School Quality | 75.0 | 65.8 |
| Violent Crime | 0/100k | 2547/100k |
| Property Crime | 0/100k | 3708/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 54,287 | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 24.7 | 37.9 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.35 | 0.45 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.08 | 0.93 |
| Political Leaning | Even | Even |
| White (%) | 76.5% | 66.1% |
| Black (%) | 5.1% | 9.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 7.7% | 16.4% |
| Asian (%) | 4.8% | 1.7% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.9% | 6.0% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 16 min | 17 min |
| Walkability | 9.9/20 | 12.7/20 |
| Airport Distance | 101 mi | 57 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 90.6% | 80.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 27.82 | 22.38 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | 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 Manhattan or Topeka more affordable?
- Topeka has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Manhattan's $46k and Topeka's $44k. Median rent is $977 in Manhattan versus $926 in Topeka.
- Is Manhattan or Topeka safer?
- Manhattan has the lower violent crime rate. Manhattan reports 0/100k and Topeka reports 2547/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Manhattan or Topeka?
- The median home value is $242k in Manhattan and $125k in Topeka, so homes are more affordable in Topeka.