Olathe, KS vs Topeka, KS
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Olathe, KS and Topeka, KS spend within 2.1% of each other per resident — $14,735 versus $14,435 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Topeka, KS edges Olathe, KS on the Fiscal Health Score by 3 points — 87/100 (grade A) to 84/100 (grade A). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Olathe, KS reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Topeka, KS carries $30 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Olathe, KS leads with health at $497 per resident, while Topeka, KS leads with highways and roads at $353.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Olathe, KS at 12% of total revenue, whereas Topeka, KS relies most on charges and fees at 19%.
Summary
Olathe spends 2.1% more per capita than Topeka ($300/person difference). Topeka, KS has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 87/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $796 | $823 |
| Sales Tax | $992 | $182 |
| Income Tax | $1,135 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,471 | $3,030 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,283 | $6,883 |
| Other | $2,971 | $4,080 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $281 | $190 |
| Highways & Roads | $141 | $353 |
| Education | $35 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,206 | $3,253 |
| Health | $497 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $470 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $456 | $55 |
| Housing | $2,111 | $3,032 |
| Utilities | $4,550 | $3,548 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $663 |
| Other | $4,988 | $3,342 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.