Wathena is home to 1,554 people in Kansas. At a median age of 46.2, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Owners hold 84% of the housing stock. Renters pay $428 a month at the median. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $161,800.
At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $87,222, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 46.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 43%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Wathena
What changed most since 1990
White share99.1% → 92.7%(−6.5 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Homes owned by their occupants71.7% → 83.6%(+11.9 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
Median household income (2024 dollars)$53,906 → $87,222(+62%)US over the same years: +14%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)54.9%(28)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)41.2%(21)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era33.3%(17)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 51 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Wathena, decade by decade
Wathena population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
1,160
$53,906
$81,602
10.3%
2.1
2000
1,348
$62,020
$112,943
18.4%
7.1
2010
1,364
$66,714
$134,363
20.7%
10.9
2020
1,246
$66,593
$134,779
22.3%
20.1
2024
1,554
$87,222
$161,800
17.7%
17.2
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
