Fairfax, 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.
Fairfax
70.4
#1102 nationally
Topeka
73.5
#729 nationally
Fairfax leads in crime level (2.5 vs 23.5). Fairfax leads in median household income ($128,708 vs $54,052). Topeka leads in cost of living index (87 vs 160).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Fairfax, VA | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70.4 (#1102) | 73.5 (#729) |
| Population | 25,144 | 125,475 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $787,568 | $198,385 |
| Median Household Income | $128,708 | $54,052 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 17.1 min |
| Walk Score | 54 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 2.5 | 23.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 160 | 87 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+35.0 | Even |
Data coverage note: Topeka is missing data for 1 metric that Fairfax has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
C-
70.4 Score
Fairfax, VA
Small Virginia city with local appeal
Median Home
$787,568
Population
25,144
Crime
Low
Walk Score
54
Northeast
View Fairfax, 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 →