Houston, TX vs Topeka, KS
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Houston
72.1
#926 nationally
Topeka
73.5
#729 nationally
Topeka leads in average commute (17.1 min vs 28.5 min). Topeka leads in cost of living index (87 vs 96). Houston leads in median household income ($57,791 vs $54,052).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 73.5 (#729) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 125,475 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $198,385 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $54,052 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 17.1 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | N/A |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 23.5 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 87 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | Even |
Data coverage note: Topeka is missing data for 1 metric that Houston has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
C-
72.1 Score
Houston, TX
Space City with global energy
Median Home
$263,563
Population
2,314,157
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Southwest
View Houston, TX →
C
73.5 Score
Topeka, KS
Mid-size Kansas city with community character
Median Home
$198,385
Population
125,475
Crime
High
Median Income
$54,052
Midwest
View Topeka, KS →