Hiawatha is a small town of 3,246 in Kansas, with a median household income of $56,050
and a 4.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Hiawatha stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Hiawatha is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Hiawatha 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: 86.7
Hiawatha's overall cost of living index is 86.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Hiawatha costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Hiawatha, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$106,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$688
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
67.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$56,050
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Hiawatha's violent crime rate is 568.5 per 100,000 residents
— 50% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
568.5 /100k
Property Crime
1168.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Hiawatha is served primarily by Hiawatha.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Hiawatha, KS
National Avg
School District
Hiawatha
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
22.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Hiawatha sees average highs of 36.2°F in January
and 87.3°F in July,
with 34.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 16.9 inches of snow per year.
Hiawatha's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Hiawatha roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $106,700 and median rent is $688/month.
Hiawatha's violent crime rate is 568.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1168.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Hiawatha are operated by Hiawatha.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.1:1. 22.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Hiawatha, KS has a population of 3,246, a median household income of $56,050, and an unemployment rate of 4.5%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Hiawatha averages 36.2°F in January and 87.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.7 inches
with about 16.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Hiawatha, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 66434.
The population of Hiawatha, Kansas is 3,246 with a median age of 41.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Hiawatha: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $106,700, median household income $56,050, crime index 112 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hiawatha side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
