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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Topeka, KS

Population: 126,431 (2022) · Mid-Size Cities (100K–250K)

A
87/100

Excellent fiscal health — strong reserves, low debt, well-funded pensions

Total Spending
$1.8B
Per Capita
$14,435
Total Revenue
$4.7B
Total Debt
$3.8M

Spending Breakdown

Utilities
24.6%$448.6M
Other
23.2%$422.5M
Public Welfare
22.5%$411.3M
Housing & Community Development
21.0%$383.3M
Interest on Debt
4.6%$83.8M
Highways & Roads
2.4%$44.6M
Fire Protection
1.3%$24.0M
Parks & Recreation
0.4%$6.9M

Spending data sourced from the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of State & Local Government Finances. Per-capita comparisons use the Lincoln Institute's Fiscally Standardized Cities methodology for fair cross-city benchmarking.

Revenue Sources

Property Tax
2.2%$104.0M
Sales Tax
0.5%$23.0M
Intergovernmental
8.2%$383.1M
Charges & Fees
18.5%$870.2M
Other
11.0%$515.8M

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection$190/person
Highways & Roads$353/person
Parks & Recreation$55/person

Score Breakdown

Budget Balance & Reserves (25%)90/100
Debt Burden (20%)100/100
Pension Funding (20%)76/100
Spending Efficiency (15%)94/100
Revenue Diversity (10%)100/100
Trend Direction (10%)50/100

Debt Overview

Total Debt$3.8M
Long-Term Debt$0
Debt Per Capita$30
Cash & Securities$44.4M

Compare Cities

See how Topeka stacks up against another city.

vs Wichita, KSvs Overland Park, KSvs Kansas City, KS
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023). Population from American Community Survey.

Other Cities in Kansas

Wichita, KS

Pop. 396K

A
Total Spending
$3.2B
Per Capita
$7,986

Overland Park, KS

Pop. 197K

A
Total Spending
$1.6B
Per Capita
$8,044

Kansas City, KS

Pop. 155K

C

Olathe, KS

Pop. 142K

A
Total Spending
$2.1B
Per Capita
$14,735

Compare Topeka With

Wichita, KS

Spending: $7,986/person · Grade: A

Overland Park, KS

Spending: $8,044/person · Grade: A

Kansas City, KS

Spending: $0/person · Grade: C

Olathe, KS

Spending: $14,735/person · Grade: A

Frequently Asked Questions

Topeka, KS spends $14,435 per resident, based on total expenditures of $1.8B for a population of 126,431. The city has a Fiscal Health Score of A (87/100).

Topeka, KS has total expenditures of $1.8B and total revenue of $4.7B. The city carries $3.8M in total debt, based on Census Bureau data from 2023.

Topeka, KS employs 0 government workers, of which 0 are full-time. The average government salary is $0, with 0.0 employees per 10,000 residents.

Topeka, KS has a Fiscal Health Score of A (87/100). This score evaluates budget balance, debt burden, pension funding, spending efficiency, revenue diversity, and 3-year fiscal trajectory compared to peer cities of similar population.

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