Lincoln → Topeka
Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources
Should you move?
Moving from Lincoln to Topeka is neutral, depends on priorities: BEA regional price parity goes from 91.6 to 88.8 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent falls by $84/mo.
- -$1,748
- BLS median salary lower in Topeka
- 217 to 456
- violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
- 13.5:1 to 13.8:1
- NCES student-teacher ratio
- $4,080
- 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.
Pros of Moving
- + $84/mo cheaper rent (2BR)
- + More affordable childcare
Cons of Moving
- - Higher violent crime rate
- - More environmental violations
Purchasing power stays near-even: BEA RPP moves only from 91.6 to 88.8 (ratio 0.97), inside a ±5% band. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent drops $84/mo ($1,008/yr) from $1,141 in Lincoln to $1,057 in Topeka.
The seven-dimension ledger splits (3 destination wins · 4 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Topeka sits #153 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Lincoln is #24/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Neutral, depends on priorities. Override it with the dimension table below.
BLS OEWS median salary moves $1,748 lower ($65,897 → $64,149). Labor-market size: 174,050 tracked jobs at origin vs 108,560 at destination.
State retirement friendliness is near-even: Nebraska 67 (C, #16/51) vs Kansas 63 (C, #21/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.
State retirement friendliness
Primary-state scores from PlainRelocate's retirement registry (tax + healthcare + climate composite). Metro pairs use each metro's primary state abbreviation.
- Income tax
- 65
- Property tax
- 62
- Estate tax
- 50
- Healthcare
- 66
- 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 Lincoln to see what you'd need to earn in Topeka to maintain the same purchasing power.
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