Poverty and living standards in Topeka, Kansas: official figures
15.7% of residents of Topeka (19,123 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 256th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; Kansas: 11.3%).
How many children live in poverty in Topeka?
17.6% of children under 18 in Topeka lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (4,870 children), 335th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; Kansas: 13.1%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Topeka?
By age, the poverty rate in Topeka was 18.6% for children under 6 and 13.6% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Topeka live in deep poverty?
9,809 people in Topeka, 8.1% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 216th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Topeka are cost-burdened?
44.4% of renting households in Topeka spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (9,508 households), 100th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; Kansas: 43.5%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Topeka spend half their income on rent?
23.0% of renting households in Topeka spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 216th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Topeka are food insecure?
An estimated 18.7% of adults in Topeka experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 264th highest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 15.3% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Topeka compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Topeka ranks 256 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 253 | Amarillo | 15.8% |
| 254 | Elizabeth | 15.7% |
| 255 | Palmdale | 15.7% |
| 256 | Topeka | 15.7% |
| 257 | Bethlehem | 15.7% |
| 258 | High Point | 15.7% |
| 259 | Jersey City | 15.6% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Topeka ranks 335 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 332 | Yuba City | 17.7% |
| 333 | Grand Prairie | 17.7% |
| 334 | St. Petersburg | 17.7% |
| 335 | Topeka | 17.6% |
| 336 | Prescott Valley | 17.6% |
| 337 | Indio | 17.5% |
| 338 | Abilene | 17.5% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Topeka ranks 216 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 213 | Newport News | 8.1% |
| 214 | El Paso | 8.1% |
| 215 | Longview | 8.1% |
| 216 | Topeka | 8.1% |
| 217 | Westminster | 8.0% |
| 218 | St. Cloud | 8.0% |
| 219 | Elyria | 8.0% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Topeka ranks 724 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 721 | Santa Monica | 44.6% |
| 722 | Wichita Falls | 44.5% |
| 723 | Green Bay | 44.5% |
| 724 | Topeka | 44.4% |
| 725 | Jersey City | 44.4% |
| 726 | Huntersville | 44.4% |
| 727 | Palo Alto | 44.4% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
Topeka ranks 265 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 262 | Kokomo | 18.9% |
| 263 | Springfield | 18.8% |
| 264 | Boston | 18.7% |
| 265 | Topeka | 18.7% |
| 266 | Champaign | 18.7% |
| 267 | Sioux City | 18.7% |
| 268 | Beaumont | 18.7% |
More on Topeka: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
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