Arlington, VA 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.
Arlington
72.2
#917 nationally
Topeka
73.5
#729 nationally
Arlington leads in median household income ($137,387 vs $54,052). Topeka leads in cost of living index (87 vs 151). Topeka leads in average commute (17.1 min vs 28.2 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.2 (#917) | 73.5 (#729) |
| Population | 238,643 | 125,475 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $815,538 | $198,385 |
| Median Household Income | $137,387 | $54,052 |
| Average Commute | 28.2 min | 17.1 min |
| Walk Score | 69 | N/A |
| Crime Level | Low | 23.5 |
| School Rating | 8.8 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 151 | 87 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+58.6 | Even |
Data coverage note: Topeka is missing data for 1 metric that Arlington has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
C-
72.2 Score
Arlington, VA
Urban walkability meets federal opportunity
Median Home
$815,538
Population
238,643
Crime
Low
Schools
A
Southeast
View Arlington, VA →
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 →