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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Topeka Metro

Topeka, KS · 5 counties · 233,152 residents · 3,233 sq mi
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The short version

With 233,152 people, Topeka is a metro area. Home values have risen by half since 2000, reaching $137,345. The foreign-born share is 3%. The average commute runs 21 minutes. Median rent is $801 a month. 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.5
US median: 38.8
Average education
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
233,152
+4%since 2000
from 224,551 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
72 / sq mi
+4%since 2000
from 69 / sq mi in 2000
Median age
40.5
+8%since 2000
from 37.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
3,233 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
208K215K222K229K237K19902000201020202024Topeka
2024232K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.7%(13,394)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.6%(15,293)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.9%(16,184)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.7%(15,614)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.7%(13,213)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.5%(26,711)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4412%(28,089)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.5%(26,750)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.1%(32,777)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7411.4%(26,487)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.7%(13,252)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.3%(5,388)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,630
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,125 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,344
+54%since 2000
from $20,312 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
38.1%
+10.8 ptssince 2009
from 27.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
10.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade10.7%
US avg: 10%
Information9.7%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services7.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Wholesale trade7.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration6.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Finance & insurance6.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services1.9%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$137,345
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,258 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$801
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $477 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
67.2%
−3.8 ptssince 2000
from 71.0% in 2000
32.8% rent
Persons per household
2.37 people
+1%since 2009
from 2.36 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
2.3
−1%since 2009
from 2.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic74.5%(173,646)
Black5.9%(13,789)
Hispanic / Latino11.1%(25,832)
Asian1.1%(2,614)
Other5%(11,568)
Segregation Score
38
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican9%(20,933)
Puerto Rican0.6%(1,208)
Nicaraguan0.2%(428)
Cuban0.2%(350)
Guatemalan0.1%(177)
Spaniard0.1%(153)
Colombian0%(89)
Argentine0%(73)
+ 7 more hispanic origin groups with data
Peruvian0%(51)
Bolivian0%(18)
Honduran0.1%(12)
Chilean0%(4)
Asian origin
Chinese0.4%(815)
Asian Indian0.3%(607)
Filipino0.2%(463)
Japanese0.1%(161)
Vietnamese0.1%(124)
Cambodian0%(53)
Korean0%(49)
Laotian0%(34)
Thai0%(19)
Pakistani0%(19)
+ 1 more asian origin group with data
Hmong0.1%(7)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(25)
Ancestry
German24.6%(57,274)
English15.2%(35,374)
Irish10.5%(24,457)
American5.3%(12,302)
French2.5%(5,738)
Swedish2.1%(4,871)
Scottish1.7%(3,920)
Italian1.3%(3,114)
Dutch1.3%(3,031)
Polish1.1%(2,562)
Norwegian1%(2,212)
Welsh0.9%(2,160)
+ 38 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish0.9%(1,986)
British0.7%(1,699)
Danish0.6%(1,429)
Czech0.6%(1,318)
Swiss0.5%(1,070)
Russian0.3%(684)
Croatian0.2%(370)
Portuguese0.2%(359)
Canadian0.1%(300)
Austrian0.1%(268)
Belgian0.1%(211)
Hungarian0.1%(200)
Ukrainian0.1%(194)
Greek0.1%(161)
Kenyan0.1%(122)
Lithuanian0.1%(115)
Brazilian0.1%(113)
Slovak0%(83)
Lebanese0%(82)
Armenian0%(70)
Finnish0%(68)
Arab0%(66)
Romanian0%(63)
Iraqi0%(38)
Nigerian0%(38)
Jamaican0%(36)
Jordanian0%(25)
Syrian0%(21)
Turkish0%(21)
Slovene0%(9)
Haitian0%(9)
Iranian0%(8)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.1%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 23.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
92.6%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 88.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
10.3%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 7.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.5 min
+51%since 2000
from 13.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
81.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 81.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.0%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 6.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
63.4%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 67.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
76.1%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
37.8%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 34.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
51.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
3.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.2%
−5.0 ptssince 2013
from 12.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
89.3%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
88.0%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married32.2%(29,598)
Married53%(48,713)
Widowed3.2%(2,956)
Divorced11.6%(10,633)
Women 15+
Never married25.8%(25,017)
Married49.5%(47,955)
Widowed9.7%(9,405)
Divorced15%(14,559)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
7.2%
−5.0 ptssince 2013
from 12.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
62.5%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
16.0%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
20.2%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
14.3%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.6%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
76.7%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
32.9%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)18%(2,963)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)20.1%(3,306)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era41.7%(6,853)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War8.1%(1,328)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II2.1%(347)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 16,424 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
In this metro

Largest cities

TopekaCENTRAL125,795Holton3,396Osage City2,784Silver Lake1,316Carbondale1,296Auburn1,272Rossville1,088Oskaloosa1,060Valley Falls1,055Lyndon1,032Overbrook985Burlingame925Perry848McLouth832Vassar832Alma830Meriden709Scranton637Maple Hill628Ozawkie617Hoyt593Nortonville579Tecumseh457Winchester440Eskridge427Alta Vista401Mayetta353Melvern340Quenemo286McFarland274

The 30 most populous of 45 cities and towns in this metro. CENTRAL marks the metro's principal cities.

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$69,695+17%
Home value$314,999+129%
Population224,148−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TOPEKA VS
Panama City
Income$71,687+20%
Home value$293,695+114%
Population231,174−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TOPEKA VS
Punta Gorda
Income$69,952+17%
Home value$328,900+139%
Population217,212−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TOPEKA VS
Prescott Valley
Income$69,613+17%
Home value$425,200+210%
Population252,552+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Topeka, KS?

Topeka, KS has about 233,152 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Topeka, KS?

The typical household in Topeka, KS earns about $59,630 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 $137,345, and the typical rent is about $801 a month.

How educated are people in Topeka, KS?

About 29.1% 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 10.7% 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 22,895 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 →