Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Topeka, KS

    Is Topeka a good place to live?

    Watch Topeka

    Topeka ranks #9 of 16 Kansas cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (43/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.3% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $130,600
    +4.7% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $947
    per month
    Household income
    $55,902
    median
    Unemployment
    4.9%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Topeka

    The median home value in Topeka is $130,600 and median rent is $947 a month, against a median household income of $55,902. Homes cost about 2.3× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Topeka crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Kansas the 2025 rate was 476 violent and 1,922 property crimes per 100,000 people — #6 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Topeka, KS

    Topeka has about 126,103 residents, 4.9% unemployment and 19% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Topeka with

    Topeka vs WichitaTopeka vs Overland ParkTopeka vs Kansas CityTopeka vs OlatheTopeka vs LawrenceTopeka vs ShawneeTopeka vs LenexaTopeka vs Manhattan

    More: Where to move in Kansas · Best counties in Kansas

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report