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Topeka vs Wichita for Rental Property Investing

Side-by-side comparison of Topeka, KS and Wichita, KS — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.

Topeka wins 4–2 across key metrics
Topeka leads on cash flow (4.93% vs 4.36% cap rate) · Wichita leads on population growth
Metric
Topeka, KS
Wichita, KS
Est. Cap Rate
4.93%
4.36%
Median Home Price
$155,000
$185,000
Median Monthly Rent
$980
$1,080
1% Rule
0.63%
0.58%
GRM
13.2x
14.3x
Price / Income
3.2x
3.5x
Property Tax Rate
1.39%
1.41%
Vacancy Rate
6.2%
6.2%
Population Growth
0.2% / yr
0.5% / yr
Annual Appreciation
2.1%
2.3%
Population
127,679
397,532
Median Income
$48,200
$52,600

Topeka vs Wichita: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: Topeka has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 4.93% compared to Wichita's 4.36%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $155,000 in Topeka vs $185,000 in Wichita, while rents come in at $980/mo and $1,080/mo respectively.

Growth & appreciation: Wichita is growing faster at 0.5% annually vs Topeka's 0.2%. Wichita leads on home value appreciation at 2.3% per year.

Costs & risk: Property taxes are 1.39% in Topeka vs 1.41% in Wichita. Vacancy rates of 6.2% and 6.2% are mixed — Wichita has the tighter rental market.

Bottom line: Topeka edges out Wichita on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 4.93%, Topeka's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Topeka or Wichita.

Topeka, KS
4.93% cap rate · $155,000 median · $980/mo
Full analysis →
Wichita, KS
4.36% cap rate · $185,000 median · $1,080/mo
Full analysis →
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