Topeka Kansas Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Topeka, KS (the Topeka metro area) was $804 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Topeka was $823 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Topeka median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Topeka rental vacancy rates, Topeka rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Topeka.
Real Gross Rent in Topeka Kansas (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Kansas Median Gross Rent | $862 | +0.82% | +4.36% |
| Topeka, KS Median Gross Rent | $804 | -4.29% | +6.21% |
Topeka, KS Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Topeka peaked in real terms in 2018 at $840 and is now $36 (4.29%) lower. Average gross rent for Topeka peaked in real terms in 2015 at $852 and is now $29 (3.40%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Topeka: Topeka KS Median, Topeka KS Average, Kansas Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Topeka
| Date | US Median |
Kansas Median |
Topeka, KS Median |
Topeka, KS Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $862 | $804 | $823 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $855 | $840 | $843 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $840 | $787 | $804 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $826 | $757 | $770 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $830 | $801 | $852 |
| 2014 | $986 | $816 | $787 | $797 |
| 2013 | $953 | $785 | $733 | $745 |
| 2012 | $940 | $756 | $731 | $752 |
| 2011 | $941 | $766 | $750 | $754 |
| 2010 | $955 | $762 | $725 | $710 |
| 2009 | $960 | $765 | $748 | $759 |
| 2007 | $927 | $732 | $683 | $687 |
| 2005 | $910 | $735 | $709 | $738 |
Topeka Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Topeka Kansas was 10.81% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Topeka Kansas
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Kansas | 7.83% | -0.11% | -0.47% |
| Topeka, KS | 10.81% | -1.54% | -0.96% |
Trends in Topeka, KS Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Topeka peaked in 2014 at 14.97%. Since then it has fallen by 4.16% to 10.81%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Topeka KS, Kansas, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Topeka
| Date | US | Kansas | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 7.83% | 10.81% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 7.94% | 12.35% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 7.49% | 7.88% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 8.30% | 11.77% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 7.74% | 12.57% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 8.45% | 14.97% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 6.54% | 7.92% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.92% | 9.37% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 8.09% | 9.81% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 7.42% | 4.61% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 7.41% | 6.61% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 8.18% | 7.28% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 10.02% | 6.51% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Topeka, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Topeka, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 16.20% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Topeka Kansas Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Kansas | 16.66% | -0.65% | -0.57% |
| Topeka, KS | 16.20% | -1.93% | +0.85% |
Trends in Topeka, KS Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Topeka household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2018 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 18.13%. Since then it has fallen by 1.93% to 16.20%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Topeka KS, Kansas, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Topeka Kansas
| Date | US | Kansas | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 16.66% | 16.20% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 17.31% | 18.13% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 17.33% | 16.11% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 17.23% | 15.34% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 17.41% | 17.53% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 17.67% | 16.44% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 17.54% | 16.58% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 16.98% | 17.01% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 17.38% | 17.92% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 16.96% | 17.17% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 16.84% | 16.35% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 15.76% | 15.03% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 16.44% | 15.30% |
Renter Fraction in Topeka Kansas
You can calculate the renter fraction in Topeka in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Topeka as a fraction of total Topeka households. In 2019 30.70% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Topeka Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Kansas | 33.54% | -0.30% | -0.77% |
| Topeka, KS | 30.70% | -1.21% | -1.93% |
Trends in the Topeka, KS Renter Fraction
The Topeka household renter fraction peaked in in 2010 at 33.75% and is now 3.05% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Topeka KS, Kansas, US
History of Topeka Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Kansas | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 33.54% | 30.70% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 33.84% | 31.91% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 34.14% | 32.35% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 34.31% | 32.63% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 33.58% | 33.12% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 33.37% | 31.01% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 33.94% | 33.53% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 33.64% | 32.99% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 32.19% | 31.27% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 31.93% | 33.75% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 32.20% | 30.23% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.84% | 30.19% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 30.54% | 28.83% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
