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METRO AREA

Topeka Metro

Topeka, KS · 5 counties · 233,052 residents (2025 est.) · 3,232.713 sq mi
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The short version

Topeka has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $69,483. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $183,516. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 27%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
232,468
+4%since 2000
from 224,551 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
72 / sq mi
+4%since 2000
from 69 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.2
+8%since 2000
from 37.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:233,052 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
208K215K222K229K237K1990201020202024Topeka
2024232K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$69,483
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,125 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,837
+86%since 2000
from $20,312 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
47.4%
+20.1 ptssince 2009
from 27.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.5%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.428
+2%since 2010
from 0.421 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade10%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services7.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance7%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration6%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical5.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$183,516
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,258 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$955
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $477 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.4%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 71.0% in 2000
29.6% rent
Vacancy rate
7.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.3%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 21.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 41.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
+37%since 2000
from 1.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
21
RELATED:See current rent listings in Topeka on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic83.5%(187,516)
Black6.7%(15,110)
Hispanic / Latino5.9%(13,138)
Asian0.7%(1,662)
Other0%
Diversity Score31%(69,517)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic75.2%(174,760)
Black5.1%(11,972)
Hispanic / Latino11.6%(26,917)
Asian1.1%(2,515)
Other7%(16,304)
Diversity Score51.7%(120,233)
Segregation Score34.3%(79,736)
Diversity Score
52
+67%since 2000
from 31 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
34
−10%since 2020
from 38 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.1%
+6.5 ptssince 2000
from 23.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.5%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 88.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.4%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 7.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.5 min
+51%since 2000
from 13.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.7%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 81.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.2%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.8%
+7.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.7%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 6.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.0%
−5.6 ptssince 2011
from 67.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.4%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
39.4%
−25.1 ptssince 2009
from 64.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
50.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
3.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.1%
−39.8 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2012
from 14.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.4%
−79.5 ptssince 2013
from 87.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.8%
+16.2 ptssince 2017
from 72.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 93.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 5.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

TopekaCENTRAL125,795
What's inside

5 component counties

Shawnee CountyCENTRAL178,607Jefferson County18,296Osage County15,693Jackson County13,438Wabaunsee County7,018
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Topeka

Athens
Pop 224,148
Panama City
Pop 231,174
Punta Gorda
Pop 217,212
Prescott Valley
Pop 252,552
Places similar to Topeka
Head to head

Compare Topeka side by side

TOPEKA VS
Athens
Income$69,695same
Home value$314,999+72%
Population224,148−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TOPEKA VS
Panama City
Income$71,687+3%
Home value$293,695+60%
Population231,174−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TOPEKA VS
Punta Gorda
Income$69,952+1%
Home value$328,900+79%
Population217,212−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TOPEKA VS
Prescott Valley
Income$69,613same
Home value$425,200+132%
Population252,552+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Topeka, KS?

Topeka, KS has about 232,468 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Topeka, KS?

The typical household in Topeka, KS earns about $69,483 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Topeka, KS expensive?

In Topeka, KS, the median home is worth about $183,516, and the typical rent is about $955 a month.

How educated are people in Topeka, KS?

About 30.1% of adults age 25 and over in Topeka, KS hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Topeka, KS?

About 11.5% of people in Topeka, KS live below the federal poverty line.

Has Topeka, KS grown since 1990?

Yes, Topeka, KS has grown since 1990. The population has added about 22,211 residents, a change of about 11 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →