Wichita, KS vs Topeka, KS
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Topeka, KS outspends Wichita, KS by a wide margin per resident — $14,435 versus $7,986, a 81% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Wichita, KS edges Topeka, KS on the Fiscal Health Score by 3 points — 90/100 (grade A) to 87/100 (grade A). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Topeka, KS carries the lighter load at $30 per resident versus $132 for Wichita, KS. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Wichita, KS leads with parks and recreation at $874 per resident, while Topeka, KS leads with highways and roads at $353.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Wichita, KS at 14% of total revenue, whereas Topeka, KS relies most on charges and fees at 19%.
Summary
Topeka spends 44.7% more per capita than Wichita ($6,449/person difference). Wichita, KS has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $823 |
| Sales Tax | $246 | $182 |
| Income Tax | $57 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,895 | $3,030 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,193 | $6,883 |
| Other | $2,783 | $4,080 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $152 | $190 |
| Highways & Roads | $126 | $353 |
| Education | $2 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $441 | $3,253 |
| Health | $254 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $113 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $874 | $55 |
| Housing | $2,618 | $3,032 |
| Utilities | $1,225 | $3,548 |
| Interest on Debt | $70 | $663 |
| Other | $2,111 | $3,342 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.