Wakarusa, Kansas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 209, Wakarusa's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Wakarusa is a small community located in Kansas, within Shawnee County. The total population is 209. It ranks as the 420th most populous out of 721 Census-designated places in Kansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wakarusa is 65.2 years. This is 74% higher than the state median of 37.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wakarusa is $58,583. This is 21% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.4%. This is 10% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 9.6%. This is 145% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $219,600. Housing costs are 1% higher than the state median of $217,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 82.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Wakarusa was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

18.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 48% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Wakarusa, Kansas is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Kansas state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 721 Census-designated places in Kansas. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.