Real Estate Investing in Wathena, Kansas (66024)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Doniphan County • Population: 684 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 66024 (Wathena, KS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GREAT FIT
Grade A (95/100)

Strong fundamentals — affordable, appreciating, and stable. A confident pick for primary residence.

📈 For Investors
GOOD
4.0 / 5 (71/100)

Rare combination of both appreciation and cash flow. These markets don't last long — worth serious consideration.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Wathena, KS (66024)?

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4.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $119,040
Avg Monthly Rent $981
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $64,844
% Renters 23.6%

Market Analysis: 66024 Wathena

ZIP 66024 inside Doniphan County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $119K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 66024 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Statewide comparisons place 66024 among KS's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

On the rental side, 684 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

leans the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Wathena:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 82/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 1.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+22.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $981/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
❄️
COOL MARKET
St. Joseph, MO-KS Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
44 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.7%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from St. Joseph, MO-KS metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$127K$110K$92K$75K$57K$40KFeb 2014May 2020Jul 2026

📊 How Does 66024 Compare?

Metric 66024 Wathena St. Joseph, MO-KS Kansas
Home Value $119,040 $153,927 N/A $237,409
5-Year CAGR 8.7% 8.6% N/A 7.2%
Avg Rent $981 $927 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.4% 5.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 66024? Click to expand

Our analysis gives this area a 4/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 66024 (Wathena, KS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
6.4%
Good
5yr Growth
+8.7%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $119,040
Monthly Rent $981
Price-to-Rent 10.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.9%
Cap Rate 6.4%
5-Year IRR 15.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +22.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +10.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 6.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (6.4%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
7.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 66024

Population: 684

💰 Median Household Income
$64,844
This area
$64,844
State
$67,472
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.6%
This area
23.6%
State
22.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.5%
This area
0.5%
State
-2.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
3.8%
This area
3.8%
State
17.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.1 years
This area
37.1 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.2%
This area
7.2%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 88.0%
Black/African American 6.9%
Other/Mixed 5.1%
Hispanic/Latino 3.5%
👶 Under 18
14.1%
This area
14.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.0%
This area
19.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.0%
This area
6.0%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 66024

B+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
13.7:1 Avg Class Size
$14,316 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Riverside Intermediate

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
138 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,316 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Riverside Primary School

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
189 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,316 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

B+ Above Average

PICKETT ELEM.

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 3923 PICKETT RD, ST JOSEPH
👥
277 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,485 Per Student
B+ Above Average

CARDEN PARK ELEM

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 1510 Duncan, St. Joseph
👥
604 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,485 Per Student
B+ Above Average

EDISON ELEM.

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 515 N 22ND, ST JOSEPH
👥
388 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,485 Per Student
B+ Above Average

SPRING GARDEN MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 5802 S 22ND, ST JOSEPH
👥
443 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,485 Per Student
B Good

SKAITH ELEM.

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 4701 SCHOOLSIDE LN, ST JOSEPH
👥
424 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,485 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 580 Off-Campus Students
C+
Missouri Western State University
3,817 students · 4.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 580 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should investors consider Wathena, KS?

The 4.0/5 investability rating in Wathena, KS reflects its $119K prices and $981/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within KS.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Wathena, KS?

Vacancy in Wathena, KS is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $981/mo.

How much do tenants pay in Wathena, KS?

Rent in Wathena, KS is around $981/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $119K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Does Wathena, KS favor landlords or tenants?

Rental owners in Wathena, KS deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

How strong is tenant demand in Wathena, KS?

Working renters make up the core of the Wathena, KS tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

You know 66024 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 66024 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 66024 ranks in St. Joseph, MO-KS

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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