Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) vs Topeka: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), GA and Topeka, KS, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricAthens-Clarke County unified government (balance), GATopeka, KS
Population126,672126,431
Median household income$47,798$54,052
Median home value$242,300$124,700
Median rent (/mo)$1,045$926

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), GA and Topeka, KS comes down to what you value most. Topeka has the lower median home value, and Topeka has the lower median rent.

Topeka has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) or Topeka?
By median home value, Topeka is the cheaper of the two ($124,700 vs $242,300). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) or Topeka?
Median household income is $47,798 in Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) versus $54,052 in Topeka, per the US Census Bureau.

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