The typical owner-occupied home in Topeka is worth about $144,200, 34% below the Kansas median of $217,200 and 57% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,132 a year in property taxes, about 1.48% of their home's value, higher than the Kansas rate of 1.29%. The median household earns $56,956 a year, so the median home costs 2.5 times the median income (2.9 times for Kansas). 59% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 56% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Topeka at a glance
| Topeka | Kansas | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $144,200 | $217,200 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,132 | $2,798 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.48% | 1.29% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $56,956 | $74,275 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 59% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 56% | 57% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,291 | $1,689 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 19.0% | 19.4% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $979 | $1,060 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 27.7% | 27.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1967 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 8.4% | 9.2% | 10.1% |
| Population | 125,786 | 2,947,197 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Topeka
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Topeka home of $144,200 with 20% down costs about $1,014 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,254, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $43,455 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 21% of the median Topeka household income of $56,956; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $189,000.
The median rent here is $979 a month, so owning the median home costs about $35 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $28,840 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $115,360 |
| Principal and interest | $776 |
| Property taxes (1.48% a year) | $178 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $60 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,014 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $5,047 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $141,588 |
| Principal and interest | $952 |
| Property taxes (1.48% a year) | $178 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $60 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $64 |
| Total per month | $1,254 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Topeka
What is the median home value in Topeka?
About $144,200 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Topeka?
Homeowners pay a median $2,132 a year, which is about 1.48% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Topeka?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,014 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $43,455 a year.
More about Topeka
- Mortgage Refinance in Topeka
- Debt Relief in Topeka
- Home Equity Loans in Topeka
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data