Population 13,167 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Southwest Topeka
Household size in Southwest Topeka
| Period | Southwest Topeka | Topeka | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 2.37 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.29 | 2.45 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.27 | 2.42 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.29 | 2.35 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | −0.02 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Southwest Topeka is a place of small households, averaging 2.29 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. That is in line with the rest of Topeka. Households are largest in the center and smallest in the north.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Southwest Topeka
| Period | Southwest Topeka | Topeka | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.8 | 38.6 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.3 | 39.1 | 37.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.0 | 39.9 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.7 | 40.2 | 38.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.8 | +1.5 | +1.4 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Southwest Topeka is 42.7 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.8, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the north.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Southwest Topeka
| Period | Southwest Topeka | Topeka | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 14.5% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 13.0% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.0% | 10.5% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.7% | 12.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | −2.0 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Southwest Topeka (11.7%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 2.0 points, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Southwest Topeka
Renters in Southwest Topeka
| Period | Southwest Topeka | Topeka | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.7% | 34.9% | 30.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 38.5% | 37.4% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.4% | 37.4% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 34.8% | 34.9% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | +0.0 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Southwest Topeka is just as common as it is nationally: 34.8% of households rent. Among homeowners, 39.5% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the south. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.9 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Southwest Topeka
| Period | Southwest Topeka | Topeka | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.8% | 7.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 9.9% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.0% | 10.7% | 11.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 8.6% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +0.8 pts | −0.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Southwest Topeka: just 4.6% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Southwest Topeka
| Period | Southwest Topeka | Topeka | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1968 | 1971 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1969 | 1972 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1969 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1971 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | −0 | +3 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Southwest Topeka is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Southwest Topeka
| Period | Southwest Topeka | Topeka | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $770 | $758 | $769 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $881 | $843 | $858 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,032 | $953 | $950 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,226 | $1,109 | $1,159 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$456 | +$351 | +$390 | +$606 |
The median renter in Southwest Topeka pays $1,226 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in Topeka as a whole ($1,109). Rent has climbed $456 a month since 2006–10, up 59%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.0% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Southwest Topeka
Bachelor's degrees in Southwest Topeka
| Period | Southwest Topeka | Topeka | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.1% | 29.1% | 30.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 44.7% | 29.3% | 31.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.5% | 30.1% | 33.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 43.3% | 30.8% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +1.7 pts | +4.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than four in ten adults 25 and older in Southwest Topeka (43.3%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has edged up 1.2 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the southeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Southwest Topeka
| Period | Southwest Topeka | Topeka | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.8% | 89.5% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.4% | 90.2% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.5% | 91.5% | 90.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.0% | 92.3% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +2.8 pts | +2.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Southwest Topeka: 97.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has edged up 1.2 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Southwest Topeka
| Period | Southwest Topeka | Topeka | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 7.4% | 6.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.1% | 7.5% | 6.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 4.4% | 4.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 4.5% | 4.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −2.9 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Southwest Topeka than nationally: unemployment was 4.0%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Southwest Topeka compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Topeka | 2.29 | 42.7 | 11.7% | 34.8% | 4.6% | 1986 | $1,226 | 43.3% | 97.0% | 4.0% |
| West Southwest 3 | 2.18 | 44.8 | 6.2% | 34.1% | 8.6% | 1963 | $1,120 | 24.6% | 96.2% | 5.2% |
| West Southwest 2 | 2.01 | 44.4 | 11.7% | 55.9% | 10.5% | 1977 | $1,195 | 31.1% | 93.5% | 3.8% |
| South Southeast 1 | 2.02 | 39.9 | 8.2% | 58.6% | 10.7% | 1971 | $939 | 34.3% | 96.9% | 4.6% |
| Central Topeka 2 | 2.20 | 35.9 | 6.1% | 42.2% | 10.0% | 1958 | $894 | 37.4% | 95.4% | 6.7% |
| South Southeast 3 | 2.42 | 40.6 | 10.5% | 17.7% | 9.9% | 1985 | $1,657 | 26.3% | 94.1% | 1.2% |
| East Topeka | 2.43 | 34.5 | 26.9% | 44.9% | 8.3% | 1979 | $651 | 19.7% | 89.3% | 7.6% |
| Sunset Hills | 1.99 | 25.6 | 5.1% | 60.9% | 23.4% | 1969 | $904 | 48.1% | 96.1% | 11.5% |
| Oread | 2.37 | 22.0 | 7.7% | 90.1% | 13.0% | 1953 | $1,033 | 49.1% | 96.5% | 8.8% |
| Prairie-Piper-KC-KS | 2.94 | 39.1 | 18.7% | 28.0% | 6.0% | 2002 | $1,712 | 38.3% | 94.7% | 0.4% |
| I-435 West KC-KS | 2.95 | 37.2 | 9.1% | 25.3% | 4.6% | 2000 | $2,318 | 44.2% | 93.3% | 6.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Pleasant Valley, Austin, TX · North Hill, Spokane, WA · North King St, Hampton, VA · North West Long Beach, Long Beach, CA · Northwest Nashua, Nashua, NH · Northwest Spokane, Spokane, WA · Ocean Beach, San Diego, CA · Okolona, Louisville, KY · Old Everett, Lansing, MI · Old North End, Burlington, VT
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Southwest Topeka. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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