Relocation profile · Federal data
Topeka, KS
BEA RPP 88.8 ranks #71 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
- 88.8
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,057
- 2BR rent / mo
- $64,149
- Median salary
- 53.8
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Topeka ranks #153 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (53.8/100), with its strongest marks in housing and cost of living.
- #153
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 2,970,606
- metro-area population
- 456
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,354
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: low hazard (15/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Topeka ranks #153 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 88.8 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,057/mo, median salary $64,149; LiveAbility Score 53.8/100, strongest in housing and cost of living.
Signature: BEA RPP 88.8 ranks #71 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 88.8 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,057/mo.
LiveAbility 53.8/100 keeps Topeka in the middle third (#153 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Topeka area is 108,560.
Topeka vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
54 Top 40% higher than 60% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Topeka housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Topeka MSA; housing RPP 65.0 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,057/mo.
Topeka wages and employment
Topeka posts 108,560 total employment with median salary $64,149 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,810 |
| Registered Nurses | $81,820 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $31,470 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $39,500 |
| General and Operations Managers | $85,080 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Topeka area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Topeka area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Topeka's composite Life Score is 60.1/100 (C), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Topeka ranks #153 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 53.8/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Topeka - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Housing
Housing
87 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
82 /100
- Schools
Schools
69 /100
- Climate
Climate
53 /100
- Job market
Job market
42 /100
- Air quality
Air quality
39 /100
- Safety 16
Safety
16 /100
- Low hazard 15
Low hazard
15 /100
What this shows Topeka's strongest dimensions are housing and cost of living; its weakest among scored dims is low hazard at 15/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Topeka to
Metros near Topeka on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Topeka on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Topeka cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Topeka wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Topeka?
Topeka runs a $64,149 median salary at a 88.8 cost index, ranking #153 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Topeka's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Topeka head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Topeka
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.