Real Estate Investing in Topeka, Kansas (66603)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Shawnee County • Population: 1,304 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 66603 (Topeka, KS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (84/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
STRONG
5.0 / 5 (100/100)

Rare combination of both appreciation and cash flow. These markets don't last long — worth serious consideration.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 36.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Lower household income: $37,663 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Topeka, KS (66603)?

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5.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

5.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $65,157
Avg Monthly Rent $788
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $37,663
% Renters 73.5%

Market Analysis: 66603 Topeka

The 66603 ZIP in Topeka is not a pristine, turnkey story — it is a value-add map. Stock is older, prices near $65K are approachable, and upside sits in the rehab line.

ZIP 66603 favors investors with a contractor on speed dial. Meanwhile, the turnkey yield looks ordinary, a renovated unit pulls stronger rent than the unrenovated $788/mo average.

Relative to KS, 66603 reads as a working-capital ZIP — prices below average, renter share elevated at 74%, and room for operator-led upside.

Stepping back, incomes in 66603 sit below the county median, the tenant pool is deep and the demand for upgraded rental stock consistently outruns supply.

BRRRR is the most natural fit. Buy under $65K, rehab, refinance, and the capital recycles in a way turnkey markets cannot replicate.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Topeka:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 80/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 1.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $788/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Topeka, KS Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
35 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.3%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Topeka, KS metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$75K$63K$52K$40K$29K$17KMar 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 66603 Compare?

Metric 66603 Topeka Topeka, KS Kansas
Home Value $65,157 $119,504 N/A $237,409
5-Year CAGR 13.0% 8.1% N/A 7.2%
Avg Rent $788 $1,193 N/A -
Cap Rate 9.4% 5.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 66603? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $788/mo on homes averaging $65,157 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 5/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

74% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 66603 (Topeka, KS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Shawnee County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

WCW Property Management specializes in single and multi-family dwellings and HOAs in Northeast Kansas, Wichita, and Kansas City, KS and MO, offering services for tenants, owners, and investors. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamilyHOA
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PURE Property Management of Kansas offers property management services. summary from their website

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Rental Management Solutions provides property management services in Northeast Kansas, including rental search, tenant portal, and owner FAQs. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
9.4%
Excellent
5yr Growth
+13.0%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Topeka, KS metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
40%
Days Pending
0/2
35 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $65,157
Monthly Rent $788
Price-to-Rent 6.9:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 14.5%
Cap Rate 9.4%
5-Year IRR 22.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +13.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +10.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 9.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (9.4%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
36.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+13.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 66603

Population: 1,304

💰 Median Household Income
$37,663
This area
$37,663
State
$67,472
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
73.5%
This area
73.5%
State
22.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
-2.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.7%
This area
17.7%
State
17.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
28.7 years
This area
28.7 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
36.8%
This area
36.8%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 54.2%
Other/Mixed 36.9%
Black/African American 8.9%
Hispanic/Latino 7.5%
👶 Under 18
32.0%
This area
32.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.0%
This area
12.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
17.1%
This area
17.1%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 66603

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Chase Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 2250 NE State St, Topeka
👥
368 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,260 Per Student
A+ Excellent

State Street Elem

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 500 NE Sumner St, Topeka
👥
419 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,260 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Williams Science and Fine Arts Magnet School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1301 SE Monroe St, Topeka
👥
434 Students
👨‍🏫
9.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,260 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Landon Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 731 SW Fairlawn Rd, Topeka
👥
421 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,260 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Meadows Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 201 SW Clay St, Topeka
👥
426 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,260 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

4 Nearby 1,242 Off-Campus Students
B
Washburn University
5,663 students · 2.2 mi
C
Midwest Barber College
32 students · 4.0 mi
C+
Washburn Institute of Technology
1,187 students · 4.2 mi
C
Rasmussen University-Kansas
333 students · 4.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,242 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which investment style suits Topeka, KS?

A value-add and BRRRR deals strategy Topeka, KS best. The market produces measured results for that approach at the $65K price point.

Are there BRRRR deals in Topeka, KS?

Topeka, KS is a strong for BRRRR. Acquiring below market, rehabbing, and leasing at $788/mo produces solid refinance appraisals against $65K values.

Where do home prices stand in Topeka, KS?

Topeka, KS home values average about $65K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $788/mo in monthly income.

Is Topeka, KS good for house hacking?

House hacking in Topeka, KS is an attractive. With home values around $65K and rents at $788/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

How close is Topeka, KS to meeting the 1% rule?

With rents of $788/mo on $65K homes, Topeka, KS close to the 1% rule for most properties. The actual rent-to-price ratio is 1.21%.

You know 66603 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 66603 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 66603 ranks in Topeka, KS

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