What are the schools like in Wakarusa, IN?

Wakarusa is served primarily by Wa-Nee Community Schools. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.5:1.

What is the median household income in Wakarusa?

The median household income in Wakarusa, IN is $78,583 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 11.0%.

What is the weather like in Wakarusa, IN?

Wakarusa has an average high temperature of 31.7°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 45.2 inches.

Wakarusa, IN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Wakarusa, IN affordable or expensive?

Wakarusa's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Wakarusa is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $179,800 and the median rent is $1,180 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Wakarusa, IN?

Wakarusa has a violent crime rate of 331.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1267.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Wakarusa, IN a Good Place to Live?

Wakarusa is a small town of 2,488 in Indiana, with a median household income of $78,583 and a 11.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Wakarusa stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Wakarusa is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Wakarusa city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 97.0

Wakarusa's overall cost of living index is 97.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Wakarusa costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Wakarusa, IN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$179,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,180	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	84.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$78,583	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Wakarusa's violent crime rate is 331.5 per 100,000 residents — 13% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

331.5 /100k

Property Crime

1267.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Wakarusa is served primarily by Wa-Nee Community Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Wakarusa, IN	National Avg
School District	Wa-Nee Community Schools	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	28.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Wakarusa sees average highs of 31.7°F in January and 83.3°F in July, with 39.4 inches of annual precipitation and 45.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Wakarusa, IN
Average High — January	31.7°F
Average High — July	83.3°F
Annual Precipitation	39.4"
Annual Snowfall	45.2"

Demographics

Metric	Wakarusa, IN	National Avg
Population	2,488	—
Median Age	37.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	11.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	89.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.0%	18.9%
Asian	2.3%	6.3%
Under 18	26.8%	22.2%
65 and over	15.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Nappanee, IN 6 mi Wyatt, IN 8 mi Dunlap, IN 9 mi Bremen, IN 9 mi Osceola, IN 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Wakarusa

Wakarusa, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

46573

Wakarusa vs Other Cities

Wakarusa, IN vs Nappanee, IN Wakarusa, IN vs Wyatt, IN Wakarusa, IN vs Dunlap, IN Wakarusa, IN vs Bremen, IN Wakarusa, IN vs Osceola, IN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wakarusa, IN affordable or expensive?

Wakarusa's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Wakarusa roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $179,800 and median rent is $1,180/month.

What is the crime rate in Wakarusa, IN?

Wakarusa's violent crime rate is 331.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1267.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Wakarusa?

Public schools in Wakarusa are operated by Wa-Nee Community Schools. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 28.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Wakarusa, IN a good place to live?

Wakarusa, IN has a population of 2,488, a median household income of $78,583, and an unemployment rate of 11.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Wakarusa?

Wakarusa averages 31.7°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.4 inches with about 45.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Wakarusa?

Wakarusa, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 46573.

What is the population of Wakarusa?

The population of Wakarusa, Indiana is 2,488 with a median age of 37.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Wakarusa?

Key numbers for living in Wakarusa: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $179,800, median household income $78,583, crime index 76 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wakarusa side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.