City profile
Topeka, KS
Kansas’ capital and home of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site.
Climate
Climate type
Four seasons
Winter avg
30°F
Summer avg
79°F
Sunny days / yr
215
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$170,000
Typical monthly housing
$1,309
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
84
Taxes
- Property tax
- 1.29%
- State income tax (top)
- 5.58%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Partly exempt
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.65%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate · county score 88/100
Top hazards: Winter weather, Ice storm, Tornado
Nearest major airport
54 mi to Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Competitive / purple · 47% Democratic / 50% Republican
Demographics (Census ACS)
Population (2024)
125,786
Growth since 2019
-0.5%
Median age
38.0
Residents 65+
18.3%
Median household income
$56,956
Income growth since 2019
+18.7%
Black household income
$42,940
Home ownership
59.0%
Poverty rate
15.7%
Poverty rate, 65+
13.6%
Race & ethnicity: Black 8.5% · White 65.1% · Hispanic 16.9% · Asian 1.5% · Other 7.9%
Crime (per 100,000 residents, 2025)
Violent crime
882 · 167% above the national average
Property crime
3,467 · 123% above the national average
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, Topeka Police Department. State average: violent 476, property 1,924.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸Home insurance premiums are rising quickly here
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: hail, tornadoes
Highlights
- Brown v. Board historic site
- Very affordable
- Short commutes
Trade-offs
- Far from a major airport
- Limited nightlife
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.