The Town FilesTopeka, Indiana
Town in LaGrange County · population 1,206 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $141,700
- Household income
- $62,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 32.1
Topeka is a town of 1,206 people in LaGrange County, Indiana. The median home is worth $141,700, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of Indiana towns, better transit than 96% of Indiana towns, better for families than 94% of Indiana towns.
How Topeka ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Topeka is worth $141,700, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $62,875, which is more affordable than 64% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $916 a month. 66.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Topeka | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $141,700 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $916 | $888 |
| Median household income | $62,875 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 66.7% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.3% | — |
Who lives in Topeka
| People | Topeka | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.1 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.0% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.0% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.1% | — |
| Work from home | 1.2% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 17.3 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Topeka
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 16.5°F. About 38.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.9 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Topeka since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1974 about 9.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 169 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 2, 2011.
Severe weather in LaGrange County since 1996
LaGrange County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
| April 22, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4173: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 12, 2007 | Snowstorm | EM-3274: Snow |
Jobs and pay in LaGrange County
LaGrange County had 14,765 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,284 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Topeka itself the ACS puts it at 12.3%.
Public schools in Topeka
3 public schools with 1,280 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westview Jr-Sr High School | 7-12 | 687 | 15.3 |
| Westview Elementary School | 5-6 | 330 | 14.3 |
| Topeka Elementary School | K-4 | 263 | 13.2 |
Towns near Topeka
- Ligonier, IN5.9 mi · 4,568 people · home $110,000
- Millersburg, IN7.7 mi · 957 people · home $186,400
- Wolcottville, IN9.4 mi · 1,004 people · home $95,800
- Shipshewana, IN9.4 mi · 839 people · home $275,800
- Lagrange, IN10.1 mi · 2,715 people · home $150,100
- Rome City, IN10.4 mi · 1,322 people · home $265,900
- Albion, IN11.9 mi · 2,222 people · home $142,700
- Middlebury, IN12.3 mi · 3,466 people · home $243,700
Topeka questions
Is Topeka, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Topeka scores better for retirees than 6% of Indiana towns and quieter than 53%. 9.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.1).
How much does a house cost in Topeka?
The median owner-occupied home in Topeka is valued at $141,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,875, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $916 a month.
What is the weather like in Topeka?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 16.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 23.9 inches of snow.
Does Topeka get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Topeka since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1974. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)