Photo: Srudisell · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Topeka is healthier than 59%
Topeka differs from Kansas on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Topeka. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Topeka
Every town around Topeka scores healthier
All five graded neighbors are ahead of Topeka’s C, from Tecumseh Township (B) to Mission Township (A−). Around town ↓
Topeka is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Topeka is healthier than 35%. Against the 8,007 towns with similar household incomes ($43K–$71K), it’s healthier than 59%. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Topeka
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (17.7%), vs 13% across Kansas. Utility shut-off threats (10.8% vs 8.2%) and no reliable transportation (9% vs 7.1%) are higher too. 11.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 7.4% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD and stroke run high in Topeka
1 in 13 adults have COPD (8%), vs 6.7% across Kansas. 1 in 27 adults have had a stroke (3.7%), vs 3.2% across Kansas. Conditions ↓
Topeka has three hospitals within its borders
3 hospitals and 2 community health centers are inside Topeka. Stormont Vail Hospital is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Kansas figure falls outside Topeka’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Topeka’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Topeka is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns, #115 of 150 in Kansas. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 56% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 23%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Topeka’s median household income is $56,956; among the 8,007 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$71K), it’s healthier than 59%, more than its income alone would suggest.
At 125,795 residents, Topeka is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Topeka and the towns around it
Topeka’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 6 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | C | 39.7% | 13.1% | 16.9% | CDC place |
| Mission Township | A− | 34.6% | 11.3% | 11.8% | ZIP codes |
| Topeka Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Tecumseh Township | B | 36.8% | 12.2% | 14% | ZIP codes |
| Soldier Township | B+ | 36.4% | 11.6% | 14.6% | ZIP codes |
| Williamsport Township | A− | 35.7% | 10.7% | 12.9% | ZIP codes |
| Menoken Township | A− | 35.3% | 10.7% | 12.9% | ZIP codes |
Topeka Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.5% of Topeka adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.4% across Kansas.
Care in and near Topeka
3 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Topeka, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Topeka; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Out of every 100 Topeka adults…
Topeka runs above KS on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Kansas
Share of adults, with the Kansas figure marked.
72 miles of trails across 81 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Topeka adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kansas.
How Topeka adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Topeka runs above Kansas.
1 in 3 Topeka adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Topeka adults live with a disability (Kansas 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Topeka
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Topeka is better than Kansas on 1 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Kansas figure falls inside Topeka’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Topeka | KS | U.S. | vs KS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.2%20.2–24.3 | 18% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.8%12.5–15.3 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%15.1–18.5 | 16% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.7%36–43.5 | 36.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.1%11.8–14.6 | 11.4% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.3%36.6–42 | 34.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.6%37.9–43.5 | 36.7% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 27.5%25.3–29.7 | 25.5% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11%9.8–12.2 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.3%7.6–9 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.6–7.9 | 6.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8%7.2–8.7 | 6.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.5–4 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.6%11.3–16 | 11.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.9%15.2–18.7 | 14% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.1%25.3–30.9 | 25.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.5%12.6–16.6 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.1%33.8–40.6 | 34.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.4%10.1–12.8 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.9%76.4–81.3 | 76.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.6%59.8–65.4 | 64.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.5%82.9–86.1 | 84.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78%75.8–80.2 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.9%64.4–71.2 | 63.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.6%72.6–82.1 | 74.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.6%21.1–26.2 | 20.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 32%29–35.3 | 30.9% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.6%19.2–24.2 | 21.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.7%15.9–19.8 | 13% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14%12.5–15.7 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.8%9.7–12.2 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9%8.1–10.1 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.5%10.2–13 | 7.4% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35%32.2–37.8 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.3%14.8–17.9 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.6%15.1–18.2 | 14.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7.2–8.8 | 7.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.8%5.4–6.3 | 4.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%8.5–10.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%4.1–4.7 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Kansas figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Topeka
Is Topeka a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Topeka is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #115 of 150 in Kansas. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Topeka?
CDC estimates 39.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 36% and 43.5%, against 36.5% across Kansas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Topeka?
Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, 1.1 miles in a straight line from Topeka’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Topeka have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.1–12.8%), against 9.9% across Kansas.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Topeka more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Topeka.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Kansas figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.