Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Topeka, Indiana
A $139,000 home here costs
$1,248per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $53,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $758. The real number is $490 higher every month, 65% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare LaGrange County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Topeka from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,037 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The LaGrange County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Topeka against LaGrange County and Indiana
| Measure | Topeka | LaGrange County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $138,900 | $249,500 |
| Median property tax | $1,125 | $1,352 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.810% | 0.542% |
| Median gross rent | $872 | $816 |
| Population | 1,037 | 40,596 |
The weather behind that power bill
Topeka sits in LaGrange County, which averages a high of 82.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 16.5°F in its coldest, with 38.51" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 731 cooling and 6,427 heating degree days, which is what sets the $153 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for LaGrange County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in LaGrange County
Full LaGrange County cost breakdown · Every county in Indiana
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Topeka averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Topeka every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Topeka I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Topeka?
A $139,000 home in Topeka, Indiana costs approximately $1,248 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $758 principal and interest, $94 property tax, $59 homeowners insurance, $221 utilities and $116 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Topeka?
Topeka has an effective property tax rate of 0.810%, based on a median home value of $138,900 and median real estate taxes of $1,125. That is higher than the LaGrange County average of 0.542%.
What is the average home price in Topeka?
The median owner-occupied home value in Topeka, Indiana is $138,900, against $249,500 across LaGrange County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Topeka?
Median gross rent in Topeka is $872 a month, against $1,248 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Topeka?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Topeka, Indiana at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $53,500 a year. That covers the full $1,248 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Topeka, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Indiana.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.