Topeka, KS vs Ottawa, KS

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

MetricTopeka, KSOttawa, KS
Population125,78612,678
Median Household Income$56,956$71,699
Median Rent$979/mo$1,032/mo
Median Home Value$144,200$166,500
Cost of Living (US = 100)89—
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income42.3%39.5%
Poverty Rate15.7%9.1%
Unemployment Rate4%3.9% (county)
Violent Crime Rate /100k882188
Property Crime Rate /100k3,4671,137
Median AQI44—
Good AQI Days /yr234—
Summer Highs87°F87°F
Winter Lows22°F21°F
Snowfall17 in/yr9 in/yr
Avg Commute16.7 min20.2 min
Hospitals31
Avg Hospital Rating3.7 / 53.0 / 5
Students per Teacher13.212.9
College Degree Rate29%25.8%
Foreign-Born %5.1%2.1%
Population Growth (2020–2025)-0.6%+0.7%

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