| Measure | TopekaKansas, United States Remove Topeka | LawrenceKansas, United States Remove Lawrence |
|---|---|---|
| Scores (out of 10) | ||
| Overall score | 6.2 | 6.0 |
| Connector Score | 8.9 | 7.9 |
| Safety | 3.3 | 6.2 |
| Affordability | 7.7 | 7.8 |
| Transportation | 9.0 | 5.0 |
| Car-free friendliness | 7.0 | 4.0 |
| Walkability | 7.1 | 4.6 |
| Things to do | 6.0 | 6.4 |
| Food & dining | 4.3 | 5.9 |
| Places to stay | 5.8 | 5.1 |
| Nature & outdoors | 3.5 | 5.5 |
| Scenic value | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Family friendliness | 6.2 | 5.2 |
| Solo-traveler friendliness | 5.2 | 5.6 |
| Nightlife | 4.1 | 7.4 |
| Remote-work friendliness | 5.9 | 5.8 |
| Road-trip convenience | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Train-trip convenience | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| Bus-trip convenience | 7.3 | 1.5 |
| Cost (per person per day, USD) | ||
| Budget | $98 | $60 |
| Mid-range | $143 | $158 |
| Luxury | $225 | $263 |
| Living there | ||
| Cost of living index (national = 100) | 88 | 87 |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent | $825 | $1,080 |
| Median home price | $144,200 | $333,000 |
| Population | 126K | 96K |
| Getting there | ||
| Accessible by | Drive Train Bus Airport | Drive Train |
| Car recommended | — | — |
| Travel time from Topeka | — | 30 min details |
| Character | ||
| Best for | Car-free travel, History | — |
| Known for | Lakes & rivers, Museums & galleries, Historic sites, Live music, Shopping, Family & kids | National & state parks, Lakes & rivers, Museums & galleries, Historic sites, Food scene, Nightlife, Live music, Pro sports, Shopping |
| When to go | Peak: Periods are legislative session, major… | Peak: KU home football and basketball weekend… |
Scores and costs are estimates from public data and our own research; check the city pages for sources and dates.