United States › Kansas › Topeka CITY · 1990 CENSUS
Topeka Kansas · 119,883 residents · 61.7 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Topeka is a city of 119,883 people in Kansas. Median home value sits at $48,800. The average commute runs 14 minutes. Median household income is $26,774, under the $30,130 national median. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Headcount has barely moved since 2000.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 33.6
US median: 33.0
Average education
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01
Population & growth vs 36.3 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
119K 121K 124K 126K 128K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Topeka Age distribution, 1990
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $26,774
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $35,928 in 2000
US average: $30,130
vs $19,555 in 2000
US average: $14,340
vs 12.4% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
$48,800
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $65,700 in 2000
US average: $93,722
$380
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $486 in 2000
US average: $450
vs 60.7% in 2000
39.2% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 75.1%(91,869)
Hispanic / Latino 8.9%(10,847)
1990
White, non-Hispanic 84.9%(101,781)
Hispanic / Latino 5.5%(6,539)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 5 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 36 more ancestry groups with data vs 25.3% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
vs 85.9% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
vs 8.8% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06
Commute & transportation vs 10.8 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 38.6%(18,747)
Women 15+
Never married 31.5%(16,901)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 16.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 58.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 15.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 20.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 18.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 71.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 35.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 24.9%(1,872)
Gulf War (1990s) 24.4%(1,832)
Share of the 7,522 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Topeka Head to head
Compare Topeka to nearby cities TOPEKA VS
Lawrence
Income $65,009 +143%
Home value $292,700 +500%
Population 96,367 −23%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TOPEKA VS
Ottawa
Income $71,699 +168%
Home value $166,500 +241%
Population 12,716 −90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TOPEKA VS
Basehor
Income $116,769 +336%
Home value $349,900 +617%
Population 8,249 −93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TOPEKA VS
Gardner
Income $96,818 +262%
Home value $306,200 +527%
Population 26,154 −79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Topeka, Kansas? Topeka, Kansas has about 119,883 residents according to the 1990 Census.
What is the median household income in Topeka, Kansas? The typical household in Topeka, Kansas earns about $26,774 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Topeka, Kansas expensive? In Topeka, Kansas, the median home is worth about $48,800, and the typical rent is about $380 a month.
How educated are people in Topeka, Kansas? About 22.1% of adults age 25 and over in Topeka, Kansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Topeka, Kansas? About 12.3% of people in Topeka, Kansas live below the federal poverty line.
Keep going
Explore from here 