Real Estate Investing in Topeka, Kansas (66616)

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

Shawnee County • Population: 6,065 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 66616 (Topeka, KS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GREAT FIT
Grade A (90/100)

Strong fundamentals — affordable, appreciating, and stable. A confident pick for primary residence.

📈 For Investors
GOOD
4.0 / 5 (71/100)

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

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.4% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Topeka, KS (66616)?

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4.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $106,478
Avg Monthly Rent $963
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $48,140
% Renters 33.1%

Market Analysis: 66616 Topeka

ZIP 66616 in Topeka, KS carries a solid set of headwinds. Home values near $106K and rents of $963/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $106K asset, 66616 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Regionally, 66616 sits on the difficult end of the KS spectrum. The a solid fit for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

A durable renter share of 33% in 66616 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. resilient returns are possible in 66616, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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: 82/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $963/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
🏠

Property Strategy for 66616

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
10.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+11.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$32,186/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $58,301 $830 10.3% +9.6% $58,301
2BR $93,879 $1,070 8.2% +11.7% $46,940
3BR $118,088 $1,410 8.6% +10.1% $39,363
4BR $128,744 $1,430 8.0% +10.3% $32,186

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$111K$97K$83K$69K$55K$41KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 66616 Compare?

Metric 66616 Topeka Topeka, KS Kansas
Home Value $106,478 $119,504 N/A $237,409
5-Year CAGR 10.0% 8.1% N/A 7.2%
Avg Rent $963 $1,193 N/A -
Cap Rate 7.1% 5.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 66616? Click to expand

Our analysis gives this area a 4/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 66616 (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
7.1%
Good
5yr Growth
+10.0%
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 $106,478
Monthly Rent $963
Price-to-Rent 9.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 10.9%
Cap Rate 7.1%
5-Year IRR 17.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +10.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 7.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (7.1%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
10.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+10.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 66616

Population: 6,065

💰 Median Household Income
$48,140
This area
$48,140
State
$67,472
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
33.1%
This area
33.1%
State
22.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
-2.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.8%
This area
14.8%
State
17.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.7 years
This area
38.7 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.4%
This area
10.4%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 67.5%
Other/Mixed 22.1%
Hispanic/Latino 14.6%
Black/African American 10.3%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
20.3%
This area
20.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.5%
This area
16.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.7%
This area
10.7%
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 66616

A+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
11.4:1 Avg Class Size
$17,260 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Chase Middle School

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

State Street Elem

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
419 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,260 Per Student

Nearby Schools (3 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Scott Dual Language Magnet

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 401 SE Market St, Topeka
👥
386 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,260 Per Student
A Very Good

Quincy Elem

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1500 NE Quincy St, Topeka
👥
154 Students
👨‍🏫
8.5:1 Class Size
💰
$17,260 Per Student
B Good

Logan Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 1124 NW Lyman Rd, Topeka
👥
592 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,707 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 · 4.8 mi
C
Midwest Barber College
32 students · 5.9 mi
C
Rasmussen University-Kansas
333 students · 6.5 mi
C+
Washburn Institute of Technology
1,187 students · 7.0 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is real estate in Topeka, KS a good investment right now?

Yes - Topeka, KS a 4.0/5 investability score. With $106K home prices against $963/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

Does Topeka, KS favor landlords or tenants?

KS ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Topeka generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Topeka, KS?

Occupancy in Topeka, KS runs consistent with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $963/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Topeka, KS?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Topeka, KS best. The market produces reliable results for that approach at the $106K price point.

How strong are rents in Topeka, KS?

Rents in Topeka, KS run near $963/mo. Compared with median home prices of $106K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

You know 66616 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 66616 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 66616 ranks in Topeka, KS

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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