Gardner, KS vs Topeka, KS

Side-by-side comparison from the latest government data.

MetricGardner, KSTopeka, KS
Population24,526125,786
Median Household Income$96,818$56,956
Median Rent$1,306/mo$979/mo
Median Home Value$306,200$144,200
Cost of Living (US = 100)9389
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income39.3%42.3%
Poverty Rate6.3%15.7%
Unemployment Rate3.6%4%
Violent Crime Rate /100k185882
Property Crime Rate /100k1,2693,467
Median AQI4444
Good AQI Days /yr250234
Summer Highs87°F87°F
Winter Lows23°F22°F
Snowfall14 in/yr17 in/yr
Avg Commute22.9 min16.7 min
Hospitals—3
Avg Hospital Rating—3.7 / 5
Students per Teacher13.813.2
College Degree Rate32%29%
Foreign-Born %6.1%5.1%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+12.0%-0.6%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.