The ‘Golden City’ of Kansas Lures Movers With Surprising Affordability and Small-Town Charm

Topeka, Kansas, is emerging as an affordable housing market, with the median listing price in the metro area reaching $267,000 in May, according to Realtor.com® data. This figure is over $160,000 lower than the national median, making homeownership more attainable. The city's affordability is attributed to a combination of low home prices, relatively high incomes, and a cost of living estimated to be 15% below the national average. Consequently, a household earning the median income in Topeka would spend approximately 25.3% of its earnings on housing, falling below the standard 30% affordability threshold. This financial advantage positions Topeka among the most budget-friendly housing markets in the nation's 300 largest metropolitan areas. The city is actively attracting new residents through programs like Choose Topeka, operated by the GO Topeka economic development organization. Maranda DeSanto, for example, relocated to Topeka with her family of five after being recruited through this initiative. She was subsequently hired as CEO of the Kansas Association of Realtors, highlighting the program's success in drawing professionals to the area. These relocation incentives, which can include cash grants and mortgage assistance, are part of a broader trend of municipalities, counties, and states seeking to attract out-of-state professionals and remote workers.