Russell, KS vs Wathena, KS

Russell is moderately more affordable than Wathena, with a 7% lower cost of living index. Russell scores 63 compared to 67 for Wathena, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Wathena can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Russell is $744/month compared to $794/month in Wathena — a 6% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Russell is more affordable at $109,400 median vs $154,800.

Median household income in Russell is $51,347 compared to $84,531 in Wathena (-39.3%). While Wathena is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Russell spend roughly 17.4% of their income on rent, more than the 11.3% in Wathena.