Independence vs Topeka
The short version
- Topeka is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 4% lower than in the Independence area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $144,200 in Topeka and $172,900 in Independence.
- Households earn more in Independence ($60,339 vs $56,956 median).
- Commutes are shorter in Topeka (17 vs 24 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Independence, MO | Topeka, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 121,675 | 125,795 |
| Growth since 2020 | -1% | -0.6% |
| People per square mile | 1,560 | 2,032 |
| Median age | 39.0 | 38.0 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22% | 29% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $60,339 | $56,956 |
| Median home value | $172,900 | $144,200 |
| Home value to income | 2.9× | 2.5× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,109 | $979 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 92.5 | 88.8 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 86.6 | 65.0 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $69,400 | $66,600 |
| Homeowners | 61% | 59% |
| Top state income tax | 4.7% | 5.58% |
| Combined sales tax | 8.44% | 8.71% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 23.9 | 16.7 |
| Work from home | 12% | 11% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.6% | 4.9% |
| Poverty rate | 15.8% | 15.7% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 40° / 22° | 40° / 20° |
| July high / low | 90° / 72° | 90° / 69° |
| Precipitation per year | 38 in | 37 in |
| Snowfall per year | 11 in | 17 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 47 | 50 |
| Nights below freezing | 93 | 114 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 96.5 | 88.0 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 49% | 64% |
| Home prices, past year | +3.2% | +5.6% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +42.4% | +47.6% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Independence: April and September to October. Topeka: April and September to October.
Full monthly tables: Independence weather by month and Topeka weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $69,400 in Independence and $66,600 in Topeka. Moving from Independence to Topeka, you would need about $72,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Moving between Independence and Topeka
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years, for the counties that contain each city. See where else people move from Independence and Topeka.
Which would you pick?
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