At a Glance
Median Income
$62,857
$29,746 per capita
Home Value
$138,900
Zillow: $417,783
Median Rent
$872/mo
18.8% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
5.9%
58.4% high school+
Unemployment
11.9%
7.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.9%
23.3% smoking rate
How Topeka Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Topeka's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Topeka a Good Place to Live?
B
3.2 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Topeka residents earn a median household income of $62,857 , which is 16% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $29,746. The unemployment rate stands at 11.9% (231% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 7.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,037 business establishments, including 60 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Topeka is $138,900 , 51% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $417,783. Median rent is $872/month, with 18.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 93.3 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1970.
Education
5.9% of adults in Topeka hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(82% below the national average).
58.4% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.0/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Topeka has an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C).
Winters average 25°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 34.6 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population1,037
Median Age30.0 yrs
Density644/mi²
Male / Female53% / 47%
Foreign Born9.7%
Veterans5.9%
Economy
B
Median Income$62,857
Per Capita$29,746
Unemployment11.9%
Poverty7.2%
County GDP$2,473M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,025
Housing
A+
Home Value$138,900
Rent$872
Ownership65.5%
Zillow$417,783
Housing Units430
Rent Burden18.8%
Health
Obesity39.9%
Diabetes11.6%
Smoking23.3%
Heart Disease6.6%
Premature Death6,290/100K
Climate
Avg Temp50°F
Rain34.6 in/yr
Elevation928 ft
Education
F
Bachelor's+5.9%
High School+58.4%
Graduate+1.5%
School Score6.0/10
Community
2024 VoteR 78% / D 21%
Commute18 min
Broadband86.5%
Internet Speed43 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries4
Did You Know?
The median home in Topeka was built in 1970.
The nearest airport is South Bend International (41 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.407 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
22.1% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 8 fatal vehicle crashes.