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Kansas city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Topeka?

What it costs to live in Topeka, and how it compares with other Kansas cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

42

16th best value in Kansas

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Kansas cities.

Overall livability

17

25th overall in Kansas

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Topeka is home to about 126,802 people. A typical home runs $106,500 and a household earns around $50,900, a price-to-income ratio of 2.1. Among Kansas's largest cities, it ranks 16th for value and 25th overall.

Topeka at a glance

Median home price

$106,500

4th in KS of 25

Median rent

$865/mo

Median household income

$50,900

Home price to income

2.1x

Unemployment

4.9%

22nd in KS of 25

School rating

3/10

24th in KS of 25

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in KS of 25

Walk score

14/100

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‹ See all top Kansas cities ranked  ยท  Kansas state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Kansas only. Updated 2026.