Topeka, Kansas
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Topeka, KS.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Topeka, KS?
Topeka planning snapshot: population 125,467, housing index 57 (among the more affordable large markets in this catalog), median home $130,600, median rent $947, and income near $55,902. Expect 88°F summer highs, 23°F winter lows, and about 17-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 712.3 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 57U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $130,600U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $947U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $55,902U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.1%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 17 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 712.3per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 88°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Topeka compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 125,467City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $55,902Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year29% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 57ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year43% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $130,600City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year57% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $947City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year30% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.1%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026Near U.S. rate (4.2%)U.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 17 min32% below catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 3033% below catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 712.3per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)27% above catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 4990.6per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)66% above catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 88°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear catalog avg (87°F)Catalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 23°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals12.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 36.5 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals10% above catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 267As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear catalog avg (268)Catalog avg 268
Population trend
Topeka declined 1.9% from 127,914 in 2010 to 125,467 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Topeka, KS expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Topeka's housing cost index is 57 versus 100 nationally — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($130,600 vs $303,400) and rents ($947 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 57 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $130,600 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $947 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Topeka, KS?
Typical ownership costs center near $130,600, while median gross rent is about $947 a month. Against a median household income of $55,902, rent alone is roughly 20% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $130,600
- Median rent $947/month
- Median household income $55,902
What is the job market like in Topeka, KS?
County unemployment recently ran 4.1% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Topeka is about $55,902 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.1% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $55,902
How long is the typical commute in Topeka, KS?
Average one-way commute time is about 17 minutes, with Walk Score near 30/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 17 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 30/100
Is Topeka, KS safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 712.3 per 100k and property about 4990.6 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 712.3 per 100k
- Property 4990.6 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Topeka, KS?
Normals show summer highs near 88°F, winter lows near 23°F, about 36.5 inches of rain, and roughly 267 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 88°F
- Winter low 23°F
- 36.5 in rain · 267 sunny days
Wide-open plains weather — wind, heat, and tornado season — is a planning factor. Expect summer highs near 88°F and winter lows around 23°F. Average one-way commute time is about 17 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 30/100. Labor-market readings near 4.1% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates near 712.3 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.
Topeka, Kansas counts about 125,467 residents inside the city limits. With median income around $55,902 and a cost index of 57, the market reads among the more affordable large markets in this catalog on housing costs. Entry home prices around $130,600 still look attainable compared with coastal metros.
Topeka is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Topeka with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Topeka city, 1600000US2071000) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Shawnee County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00013996 TOPEKA MUNI AP) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19