Topeka, KS: Population, ZIP Codes & Nearby Cities

Topeka, KS is an incorporated city located in Shawnee County in the state of Kansas. Our data estimates 147,458 residents, places it at 39.035°N, 95.695°W, and lists it in Central time. This page explains its population rank, ZIP codes, nearby cities and distance to big metros.

What are the key facts about Topeka, KS?

What is the population of Topeka, KS?

Topeka has an estimated population of 147,458. That makes it the 4th largest of 669 places in Kansas, placing it among the state's ten biggest, and the largest place in its county. The typical place in Kansas has about 379 residents, so Topeka is many dozens of times larger than a typical place in the state.

Estimates for places of this size carry wider margins of error than those for big cities, so treat the figure as a guide to scale. Our guide to understanding city population numbers explains why sources disagree.

Places in Kansas with a similar population include Overland Park (195,494), Kansas City (152,960), Olathe (140,545), Lawrence (98,648), Shawnee (65,807). Comparing these pages is a quick way to see how Topeka differs from communities of the same scale.

How dense is Topeka?

Topeka has about 2,038 people per square mile (787 per square kilometer), which we classify as suburban. Within Kansas, it is denser than about 95% of the listed places. Land at this level is usually a mix of single-family neighborhoods, shopping corridors and parks, where driving is common but destinations are close. Read how to interpret population density to see how we draw these lines.

What ZIP codes does Topeka use?

The postal data lists 24 ZIP codes for Topeka: 66621, 66622, 66609, 66608, 66607, 66606, 66605, 66604, 66603, 66611, 66612, 66614, 66616, 66601, 66624, 66625, 66626, 66629, 66636, 66647, 66667, 66675, 66683, 66699. A long list like this is typical of a large city, where dozens of delivery areas, PO box codes and institutional codes sit inside the same municipality. Codes beginning with 6 are assigned to the central Midwest (Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska). Learn more in our guide to how ZIP codes work or check any code with the ZIP code lookup.

What time zone is Topeka in?

Topeka is in the Central time zone, which is UTC−6 from Coordinated Universal Time in standard time (IANA zone America/Chicago). The area observes daylight saving time, so clocks move forward in March and back in November. The nearest listed place in a different time zone is Lamar, CO, about 380 miles away, which gives a sense of how far the nearest zone boundary may be. Current local time: see the Central time hub. For the rules behind these zones, read US time zones explained.

Where is Topeka located in Kansas?

Topeka lies in the northeastern part of Kansas, at 39.035° north latitude and 95.695° west longitude. It is the capital of Kansas. The closest listed place in another state is Parkville, MO, roughly 53 miles to the east, which shows how near Topeka is to a state line. For big-city services, the nearest place with more than 100,000 people is Olathe, KS, 48 miles to the east.

Which cities are near Topeka, KS?

The closest listed place to Topeka is Lawrence, KS, 23.7 miles to the east. Of the eight nearest places below, 0 are in the same county. Distances are straight-line (great-circle) miles measured between place centers; see how distance is calculated.

Which county is Topeka in?

Topeka is in Shawnee County, which has the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) code 20177. The county contains 6 places in our data, 1 of which have their own page here and 5 smaller communities that appear only in county and state lists. Other places in the county include Silver Lake (1,406), Auburn (1,211), Rossville (1,124), Wakarusa (226), Willard (90). Codes like this one help separate places that share a name; see the guide to counties and FIPS codes.

How far is Topeka from major US cities?

Among six major hubs, Topeka is closest to Chicago, IL at about 463 miles and farthest from Los Angeles, CA at about 1,301 miles in a straight line. Road distances are usually 10 to 30 percent longer. Try the distance calculator for any other pair.

Are there other places called Topeka?

Yes. Our data lists 2 other places named Topeka: Topeka, IN (1,225), Topeka, IL (70). When you search for Topeka, add the state or county so you land on the right one. This page covers the Topeka in Shawnee County, Kansas.

Planning a move to Topeka?

If you are weighing Topeka, start with the practical numbers: how far it is from where you live, whether it changes your time zone, and how its size and density compare with your current city. Use the distance calculator to measure the trip from where you live. The radius search tool lists every place within any distance of it. Our checklist for comparing cities explains what to check next.

Where to go next

Population and density come from a compiled dataset and are estimates. They may differ from official Census Bureau counts. Verify important figures at census.gov.