Shreveport-Bossier City Topeka

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Shreveport-Bossier City to Topeka is strongly favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 84.8 to 88.8 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent falls by $54/mo.

+$6,770
BLS median salary higher in Topeka
410 to 456
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
16.8:1 to 13.8:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$1,613
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
Strongly Favorable
Cost Index: 84.8 → 88.8
Rent Delta: -$54/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $54/mo cheaper rent (2BR)
  • + $7K higher median salary
  • + Better student-teacher ratios
  • + More affordable childcare
  • + Fewer environmental violations

Cons of Moving

  • - 4% higher cost of living

Purchasing power stays near-even: BEA RPP moves only from 84.8 to 88.8 (ratio 1.05), inside a ±5% band. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent drops $54/mo ($648/yr) from $1,111 in Shreveport-Bossier City 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). Shreveport-Bossier City is #236/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Strongly Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $6,770 higher ($57,379 → $64,149). Labor-market size: 154,880 tracked jobs at origin vs 108,560 at destination.

State retirement friendliness is near-even: Louisiana 67 (C, #15/51) vs Kansas 63 (C, #21/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Shreveport-Bossier City
Topeka
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 84.8
RPP 88.8
Shreveport-Bossier City
Rent (2BR)
$1,111/mo
$1,057/mo
Topeka
Wages
$57,379
$64,149
Topeka
Crime
410 per 100K
456 per 100K
Shreveport-Bossier City
Schools
16.8:1
13.8:1
Topeka
Childcare
$7,396/yr
$5,783/yr
Topeka
Environment
14536 violations
3819 violations
Topeka

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 · Louisiana
67 C #15/51
Income tax
78
Property tax
79
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
8
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 Shreveport-Bossier City to see what you'd need to earn in Topeka to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Topeka
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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