Topeka vs Wichita
Topeka, Kansas versus Wichita, Kansas: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Topeka edges out Wichita on overall objective livability (46 vs 39 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Topeka | Wichita |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $54k | $61k |
| Cost of Living | $44k | $42k |
| Home Value | $125k | $166k |
| Monthly Rent | $926 | $915 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.55% | 1.20% |
| Income Tax | 5.70% | 5.70% |
| Sales Tax | 8.75% | 8.75% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 12.17% | 11.89% |
| Unemployment | 5.0% | 5.7% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 30°F | 33°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 80°F | 81°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.9 in | 34.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.1 in | 12.7 in |
| Sunny Days | 275 days | 227 days |
| Summer Humidity | 67°F | 66°F |
| Comfortable Days | 61 days | 64 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 55.6 | 66.9 |
| Air Quality | 52 AQI | 52 AQI |
| School Quality | 65.8 | 62.9 |
| Violent Crime | 2547/100k | 3687/100k |
| Property Crime | 3708/100k | 4248/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 126,431 | 395,951 |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 35.4 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.45 | 0.50 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.93 | 0.99 |
| Political Leaning | Even | R+13 |
| White (%) | 66.1% | 61.6% |
| Black (%) | 9.8% | 9.7% |
| Hispanic (%) | 16.4% | 17.6% |
| Asian (%) | 1.7% | 4.7% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 6.0% | 6.4% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 17 min | 19 min |
| Walkability | 12.7/20 | 6.9/20 |
| Airport Distance | 57 mi | 132 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 80.6% | 88.7% |
| Amenities Nearby | 22.38 | 2.22 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Good |
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 Topeka or Wichita more affordable?
- Wichita has the lower cost of living: its index is $42k, compared with Topeka's $44k and Wichita's $42k. Median rent is $926 in Topeka versus $915 in Wichita.
- Is Topeka or Wichita safer?
- Topeka has the lower violent crime rate. Topeka reports 2547/100k and Wichita reports 3687/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Topeka or Wichita?
- The median home value is $125k in Topeka and $166k in Wichita, so homes are more affordable in Topeka.