Rent Tracker
Rent Inflation in Topeka, KS
The average asking rent in Topeka, KS is $1,283/month as of 2026-08. That is +4.7% compared to a year ago.
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) | zillow.com/research
Current Avg Rent
$1,283/mo
as of 2026-08
Year-over-Year Change
+4.7%
24-Month Rent Trend
Monthly ZORI index values for Topeka, KS.
| Month | Avg Asking Rent | Change from Prior Month |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08 | $1,283 | -0.08% |
| 2026-07 | $1,284 | +0.08% |
| 2026-06 | $1,283 | +1.02% |
| 2026-05 | $1,270 | +0.71% |
| 2026-04 | $1,261 | +0.48% |
| 2026-03 | $1,255 | +0.08% |
| 2026-02 | $1,254 | +0.24% |
| 2026-01 | $1,251 | +0.08% |
| 2025-12 | $1,250 | +0.89% |
| 2025-11 | $1,239 | +0.49% |
| 2025-10 | $1,233 | +0.65% |
| 2025-09 | $1,225 | +0.00% |
| 2025-08 | $1,225 | +0.16% |
| 2025-07 | $1,223 | +0.49% |
| 2025-06 | $1,217 | +0.25% |
| 2025-05 | $1,214 | +0.41% |
| 2025-04 | $1,209 | +0.58% |
| 2025-03 | $1,202 | +1.09% |
| 2025-02 | $1,189 | +1.36% |
| 2025-01 | $1,173 | +0.00% |
| 2024-12 | $1,173 | +0.26% |
| 2024-11 | $1,170 | -0.59% |
| 2024-10 | $1,177 | +0.51% |
| 2024-09 | $1,171 | — |
Why Rent Inflation Matters
Shelter is the single largest component of the official CPI, accounting for roughly one-third of the index. But the BLS shelter index tends to lag real-market rent changes by 12–18 months because it measures rents paid by all tenants — including long-term renters locked into old leases. ZORI measures asking rents for new leases, making it a timelier signal of where CPI shelter inflation is headed.
When ZORI is rising sharply in your city, it is a leading indicator that official shelter inflation — and therefore overall CPI — will remain elevated in coming months.
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Data Source
Rent data uses the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), a smoothed measure of typical market-rate asking rents updated monthly by Zillow Research. ZORI covers single-family homes, condos, and co-ops and reflects asking rents for new leases — making it a more timely indicator than the lagged BLS shelter index. zillow.com/research | Money & Prices