Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Topeka, Kansas
A $131,000 home here costs
$1,279per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $55,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $726. The real number is $554 higher every month, 76% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Shawnee County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Topeka against Shawnee County and Kansas
| Measure | Topeka | Shawnee County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $130,600 | $170,400 |
| Median property tax | $1,991 | $2,500 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.525% | 1.467% |
| Median gross rent | $947 | $970 |
| Population | 126,103 | 178,315 |
The weather behind that power bill
Topeka sits in Shawnee County, which averages a high of 90.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 20.0°F in its coldest, with 36.53" of precipitation a year and 39% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,534 cooling and 4,860 heating degree days, which is what sets the $134 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Shawnee County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Shawnee County
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.
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Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Topeka?
A $131,000 home in Topeka, Kansas costs approximately $1,279 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $726 principal and interest, $166 property tax, $76 homeowners insurance, $202 utilities and $109 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Topeka?
Topeka has an effective property tax rate of 1.525%, based on a median home value of $130,600 and median real estate taxes of $1,991. That is higher than the Shawnee County average of 1.467%.
What is the average home price in Topeka?
The median owner-occupied home value in Topeka, Kansas is $130,600, against $170,400 across Shawnee County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Topeka?
Median gross rent in Topeka is $947 a month, against $1,279 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, Kansas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $55,000 a year. That covers the full $1,279 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 Kansas.
- 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.