At a Glance
Median Income
$55,902
$33,290 per capita
Home Value
$130,600
Zillow: $186,856
Median Rent
$947/mo
26.8% of income on rent
Violent Crime
712/100K
4,991/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
29.1%
91.8% high school+
Unemployment
3.0%
11.6% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.2%
17.6% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
58°F
301 sunny days/yr
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
3.3 / 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 $55,902 , which is 26% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $33,290. The unemployment rate stands at 3.0% (17% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 11.6% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 5,183 business establishments, including 369 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Topeka is $130,600 , 54% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $186,856. Median rent is $947/month, with 26.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 90.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1967.
Safety & Crime
Topeka reports 712 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 87% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 4,991/100K. The murder rate is 10.4/100K.
Education
29.1% of adults in Topeka hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(14% below the national average).
91.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.5/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Topeka has an average annual temperature of 58°F (14°C).
Winters average 34°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 35.4 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39.
Data Overview
People
Population126,103
Median Age38.2 yrs
Density2,037/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans7.7%
Economy
B+
Median Income$55,902
Per Capita$33,290
Unemployment3.0%
Poverty11.6%
County GDP$14,584M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,156
Housing
A+
Home Value$130,600
Rent$947
Ownership59.2%
Zillow$186,856
Housing Units59,987
Rent Burden26.8%
Crime
F
Violent712/100K
Property4,991/100K
Murder10.4/100K
Assault450/100K
Burglary720/100K
Health
Obesity40.2%
Diabetes11.5%
Smoking17.6%
Heart Disease5.9%
Premature Death10,420/100K
Climate
Avg Temp58°F
Sunny Days301/yr
Rain35.4 in/yr
AQI39 (Good)
Elevation948 ft
Education
B
Bachelor's+29.1%
High School+91.8%
Graduate+9.8%
School Score5.5/10
Community
2024 VoteR 49% / D 49%
Commute17 min
Broadband84.4%
Internet Speed103 Mbps
EV Stations21
Libraries7
Did You Know?
Topeka was founded in 1854.
The median home in Topeka was built in 1967.
The nearest airport is Philip Billard Municipal (5 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.451 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
15.2% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 103 Mbps.
There are 369 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 16 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.
All Countries
