City profile · Kansas · Census ACS 2023

Wathena, KS

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Wathena - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,463
Residents
$84,531
Median income
$154,800
Median home
$1,077
Median rent (state)

Wathena - the verdict

Nationally, Wathena sits in the 66th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

66th
percentile, household income
28th
percentile, home value
26th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Wathena, KS

Wathena is a small town in Kansas, home to 1,463 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Wathena brings in $84,531 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.7%. Wathena's housing stock carries a median value of $154,800, and the median resident age is 48.7 years. About 19.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 69.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 1 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Low Activity).

Living costs in Kansas run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Kansas at 90.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,077 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $217 across Kansas, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 14.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

1,463 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kansas

Median Household Income

$84,531 /yr

Poverty 7.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kansas average

How does Wathena compare to other US cities?

Here's how Wathena stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 66% higher than other cities
Home value 28% pricier than other cities
Median rent 26% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Wathena against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Kansas only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Kansas-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Wathena toward the top of Kansas's cities

Among the 552 Kansas cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Wathena ranks #92 - the 82nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Wathena only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#61 of 527
88th percentile in Kansas
Median Gross Rent
#92 of 552
82nd percentile in Kansas
Median Home Value
#110 of 527
79th percentile in Kansas
Poverty Rate
#258 of 552
53rd percentile in Kansas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#306 of 552
44th percentile in Kansas

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Kansas only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

66thIncome percentile

66th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Wathena's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$154,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 72% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Wathena $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Wathena, KS Wathena, KS's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Wathena, KS-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Wathena, KS median $84,531/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Wathena, KS's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Wathena, KS. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 69.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,463
Median Income
$84,531
Median Home Value
$154,800
Median Age
48.7
Poverty Rate
7.7%
Labor force participation
69.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.0%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,240 residents1,250 residents1,260 residents1,270 residents1,280 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,250 residents 1,273 residents ▲ +1.8%
Wathena's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 2
2021 1
2022 1
2023 0
2024 1

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
87.4%
Carpool
7.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
4.8%

Based on 851 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Kansas - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$65
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$217
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Kansas state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Kansas state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Wathena sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.1
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,077/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
14.0 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kansas

Leoti
1,461 people
Caney
1,450 people
Belle Plaine
1,486 people
Pleasanton
1,434 people
Osborne
1,496 people
Inman
1,425 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Wathena's 1,463 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Saticoy, CA
1,463 people
Granville, IL
1,463 people
Bayou Gauche, LA
1,463 people
Fullerton, NE
1,463 people
Bedminster, NJ
1,463 people
High Rolls, NM
1,463 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Wathena's $84,531 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Columbia, NJ
$84,531 median income
Pine Hill, NY
$84,531 median income
Rhododendron, OR
$84,519 median income
Pocasset, MA
$84,544 median income
Mount Joy, PA
$84,514 median income
Wallingford Center, CT
$84,554 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Wathena, KS Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Wathena, KS - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.3% White 95.7% Black or African American 0.2% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.1% Two or more races 4.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Wathena compares to nearby Kansas cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Wathena (this city) 1,463 $84,531
Leoti 1,461 $64,732
Caney 1,450 $39,417
Belle Plaine 1,486 $62,727
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KS NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Wathena, KS?

What is the population of Wathena, KS? +

Wathena, KS counts 1,463 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Wathena, KS? +

Wathena households earn a median of $84,531 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Wathena? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Wathena; the closest available measure is the Kansas state average, a cost of living index of 90.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Kansas vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Wathena, KS? +

A typical home in Wathena is worth $154,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.