Janesville-Beloit Topeka

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Janesville-Beloit to Topeka is favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 93.7 to 88.8 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent falls by $189/mo.

+$629
BLS median salary higher in Topeka
280 to 456
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
14.4:1 to 13.8:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$5,473
DOL infant care lower / yr in Topeka

BEA Regional Price Parity, HUD Fair Market Rent, BLS OEWS, FBI UCR, NCES, and DOL. The table below lets you override the composite with your own priorities.

Verdict
Favorable
Cost Index: 93.7 → 88.8
Rent Delta: -$189/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 5% lower cost of living
  • + $189/mo cheaper rent (2BR)
  • + More affordable childcare

Cons of Moving

  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP falls from 93.7 to 88.8, so each dollar covers more in Topeka (ratio 0.95). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent drops $189/mo ($2,268/yr) from $1,246 in Janesville-Beloit to $1,057 in Topeka.

Topeka leads on 5 of 7 federal dimensions, a destination-heavy ledger. Topeka sits #153 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Janesville-Beloit is #124/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $629 higher ($63,520 → $64,149). Labor-market size: 64,420 tracked jobs at origin vs 108,560 at destination.

State retirement friendliness is near-even: Wisconsin 57 (D, #32/51) vs Kansas 63 (C, #21/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Janesville-Beloit
Topeka
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 93.7
RPP 88.8
Topeka
Rent (2BR)
$1,246/mo
$1,057/mo
Topeka
Wages
$63,520
$64,149
Topeka
Crime
280 per 100K
456 per 100K
Janesville-Beloit
Schools
14.4:1
13.8:1
Topeka
Childcare
$11,256/yr
$5,783/yr
Topeka
Environment
2317 violations
3819 violations
Janesville-Beloit

State retirement friendliness

Primary-state scores from PlainRelocate's retirement registry (tax + healthcare + climate composite). Metro pairs use each metro's primary state abbreviation.

Origin state · Wisconsin
57 D #32/51
Income tax
62
Property tax
56
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
40
Destination state · Kansas
63 C #21/51
Income tax
68
Property tax
61
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
54

Full retirement ranking · Source composite documented on methodology (Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides + federal healthcare/climate inputs).

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Janesville-Beloit to see what you'd need to earn in Topeka to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Topeka
-

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA; retirement desk: Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides June 2026