The Topeka metro is home to 232,724 people (down 0.2% over five years), with a median household income of $68,160. Typical rent of $1,250/month works out to 22.0% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Topeka's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 25.4% |
| Manufacturing | 10.0% |
| Retail trade | 9.3% |
| Public administration | 9.0% |
| Construction | 7.6% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 22.0% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Topeka market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,250/month suggests a household income around $50,000/year. The metro's median household income is $68,160.
By workforce share: Education & health care (25.4%), Manufacturing (10.0%), Retail trade (9.3%) (Census ACS 5-year).