Real Estate Investing in Topeka, Kansas (66612)

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

Shawnee County • Population: 1,994 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 66612 (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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 16.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 8.9% in the last year.
  • Lower household income: $27,796 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Topeka, KS (66612)?

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5.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $67,962
Avg Monthly Rent $760
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $27,796
% Renters 81.2%

Market Analysis: 66612 Topeka

In Topeka's 66612 ZIP, the arithmetic favors hands-on owners. Median home values posts $68K, leaving spread for capex-heavy BRRRR or reposition strategies.

Cap rate math of 0.0% understates the return here. Post-rehab, stabilized yields climb, and the 66612 ZIP's older housing stock gives operators the opportunity set to execute.

Across Topeka, pockets like 66612 represent the last affordable rungs of a rising ladder. The state-level data shows those rungs thinning.

Residents in 66612 skew younger than the county average, and that matters for rehab positioning. Younger renters respond to finishes, appliances, and in-unit laundry in ways that move rent.

Strategic fit here is operational. Pro forma discipline, capex reserves, and lender relationships matter more than the marketing pitch.

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 2.4× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-8.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $760/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 66612

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
12.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+11.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$23,339/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $52,185 $890 12.3% +11.0% $26,093
3BR $70,016 $1,160 11.9% +9.3% $23,339

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$83K$70K$58K$45K$33K$21KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$801$792$783$774$766$757Mar 2026May 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 66612 Compare?

Metric 66612 Topeka Topeka, KS Kansas
Home Value $67,962 $119,504 N/A $237,409
5-Year CAGR 10.0% 8.1% N/A 7.2%
Avg Rent $760 $1,193 N/A -
Cap Rate 8.7% 5.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 66612? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $760/mo on homes averaging $67,962 — 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.

81% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 66612 (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
8.7%
Excellent
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 $67,962
Monthly Rent $760
Price-to-Rent 7.5:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 13.4%
Cap Rate 8.7%
5-Year IRR 18.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -8.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +10.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +10.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 8.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (8.7%) 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
16.9%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+10.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 66612

Population: 1,994

💰 Median Household Income
$27,796
This area
$27,796
State
$67,472
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
81.2%
This area
81.2%
State
22.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.4%
This area
4.4%
State
-2.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.5%
This area
10.5%
State
17.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
48.0 years
This area
48.0 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
16.9%
This area
16.9%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 48.8%
Other/Mixed 28.2%
Black/African American 23.0%
Hispanic/Latino 15.9%
👶 Under 18
3.5%
This area
3.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.4%
This area
18.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.8%
This area
3.8%
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 66612

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
12.8:1 Avg Class Size
$17,342 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Williams Science and Fine Arts Magnet School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
434 Students
👨‍🏫
9.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,260 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Topeka High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,508 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$17,260 Per Student
B Good

500 Reach

📚 Grade 12 High School Limited Data
👥
188 Students
💰
$17,507 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Robinson Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 1125 SW 14th St, Topeka
👥
348 Students
👨‍🏫
10.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,260 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Lowman Hill Elem

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1101 SW Garfield Ave, Topeka
👥
287 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,260 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Jardine Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2600 SW 33rd St, Topeka
👥
714 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,260 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Jardine Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 2600 SW 33rd St, Topeka
👥
512 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 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
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 · 1.3 mi
C
Midwest Barber College
32 students · 2.8 mi
C
Rasmussen University-Kansas
333 students · 3.1 mi
C+
Washburn Institute of Technology
1,187 students · 3.8 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Topeka, KS make sense for an investment property?

Topeka, KS rates 5.0/5 for investability. With median values at $68K and rents near $760/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Topeka, KS?

The house hack math an attractive in Topeka, KS. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $760/mo rents and $68K home values.

How much is rent in Topeka, KS?

Rent in Topeka, KS is around $760/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $68K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Are 1% rule properties available in Topeka, KS?

The 1% rule is solid territory for Topeka, KS. Rent-to-price at the median is 1.12%, putting many properties within striking distance.

Is Topeka, KS a viable BRRRR market?

Topeka, KS is a strong for BRRRR. Acquiring below market, rehabbing, and leasing at $760/mo produces solid refinance appraisals against $68K values.

You know 66612 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 66612 ranks in Topeka, KS

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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