Osawatomie, KS vs Wathena, KS

Wathena is moderately more affordable than Osawatomie, with a 7.7% lower cost of living index. Osawatomie scores 73 compared to 67 for Wathena, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Osawatomie can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Osawatomie is $948/month compared to $794/month in Wathena — a 19% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Wathena has cheaper rent, Osawatomie actually has lower median home values ($137,400 vs $154,800).

Median household income in Osawatomie is $55,612 compared to $84,531 in Wathena (-34.2%). Wathena offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Osawatomie spend roughly 20.5% of their income on rent, more than the 11.3% in Wathena.