2025 Compare Cities Education:
Topeka, KS vs West Des Moines, IA

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Highlights
- West Des Moines spends 4.9% more per student than Topeka.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 21.4% higher in West Des Moines than in Topeka. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- West Des Moines had 5.6% more residents who had graduated High School compared to Topeka
 Topeka, KSWest Des Moines, IAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$14,293$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$12,364  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,373$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio12.79  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock7994573
 Students per Counselor331  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock1.3%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.5.2%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock96.6%88.9%
 Some College Educ.23.6%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock9.6%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.29.3%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock13.3%9.3%
 Professional Degree1.8%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock1.6%1.5%
Reviews for Topeka    28 Reviews

Loretta Lynn says that in  More

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I live in Topeka this town is awful A lot of crime has been happening here. I don't suggest moving here. This town is also dying out it's mostly old people, meth  More

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Over 7 years ago

I lived in Topeka most of my life until moving to Katy, Texas...which is a premiere suburb of Houston. Topeka is genuinely missed as it is a superb community to raise a  More

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Reviews for West Des Moines    4 Reviews

Over 16 years ago

I just moved here from out-of-state a few months ago and have been pleasantly surprised by the broad range of activities and amenities available in this medium sized IA  More

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Over 16 years ago

Am contemplating a move to WDM from the East Coast (NYC). Might there be anyone out there that may have experienced this and could offer guidance or comment. Thanks.   More

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We just moved to West Des Moines and we love it here! We moved here three months ago and every weekend we have been able to do something different and fun. There is  More

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