Wakarusa’s story
Wakarusa in pictures
1 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
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WakarusaKS
A town of 2,313. Healthier than 81% of U.S. towns.
9 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Bhall87 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
2,313
−9.3% since 2010
Typical home
$319K
+1.1% in a year
Household income
$99K
median
Median age
59.0
years
Jobs based here
477
A commuter town
What makes Wakarusa stand out
The 2 things Wakarusa does most differently from other towns.
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave Wakarusa for work
Where Wakarusa’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
477jobs based in Wakarusa
2%of working residents work in town
17 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Wakarusa’s report card
Now in Wakarusa
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Wakarusa? Is an A− for health right?
Your answer becomes a post in Wakarusa’s Town Square.
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The data
Ordered by what stands out in Wakarusa. Another town gets a different order.
Health
Healthier than 81% of U.S. towns
Wakarusa beats the Kansas average on 12 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3.
A−Health Grade
32 measures vs. Kansas
12 better17 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Wakarusa | KS |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with diabetes | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| Fewer adults who get no exercise | 19.5% | 25.6% |
| More adults with depression | 24.4% | 20.8% |
Lmh
3.8 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental
90th
percentile among KS towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Wakarusa
Most working residents leave Wakarusa for work: only 2% work in town. The top destinations are Lawrence (39%), Overland Park (7%) and Topeka (6%). Half commute less than 17 miles.
2%work in town
Where working residents work
In Wakarusa2%
Lawrence39%
Overland Park7%
Topeka6%
Olathe6%
17 mi
median commute distance
477
jobs based in Wakarusa
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Housing
A typical Wakarusa home is worth about $319K
The typical Wakarusa home is worth about $319,000, up 1.1% in a year, 28% above the Kansas typical home.
$319KZillow home value
Typical home value
Wakarusa$319K
Kansas$250K
+1.1%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in April
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Climate
Four seasons, hot summers
Wakarusa has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 20°, and about 10 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
10″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter23–43°
Spring44–66°
Summer66–88°
Fall45–68°
Oct 28
typical first frost
Apr 12
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 34% of U.S. communities.
34risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
2
paid flood claims since 1996
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Outdoors
3.2% of Wakarusa is conserved land
17 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves.
3.2%conserved
3.2%
conserved · 862 of 27,187 acres
17 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Baker Wetlands | 8.3 mi | 1,001 |
| 2. Outlet Park | — | 24 |
| 3. Wells Overlook Park | 0.1 mi | 17 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
About Wakarusa
Township in Kansas, United States
Wakarusa Township is a township in Douglas County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 2,102.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 2,102
- Area
- 47 sq mi
- Elevation
- 866 ft
Wakarusa’s neighbors
9 towns share a border with Wakarusa.