Real Estate Investing in Wakarusa, Kansas (66546)

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

Shawnee County • Population: 1,182 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 66546 (Wakarusa, KS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 29.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Wakarusa, KS (66546)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $326,679
Avg Monthly Rent $927
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $80,119
% Renters 12.1%

Market Analysis: 66546 Wakarusa

Looking more closely, ZIP 66546 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $327K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Rent of $927/mo on a $327K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 66546 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

In practical terms, 66546 offers a low basis, the region around Wakarusa has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Employment concentration in 66546 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 66546 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Wakarusa:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $927/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Topeka, KS Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
35 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.3%
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 Topeka, KS metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$342K$298K$254K$209K$165K$121KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 66546 Compare?

Metric 66546 Wakarusa Topeka, KS Kansas
Home Value $326,679 $326,679 N/A $237,409
5-Year CAGR 6.6% 6.6% N/A 7.2%
Avg Rent $927 $927 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.2% 2.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 66546? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 66546 (Wakarusa, KS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Shawnee County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

WCW Property Management specializes in single and multi-family dwellings and HOAs in Northeast Kansas, Wichita, and Kansas City, KS and MO, offering services for tenants, owners, and investors. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamilyHOA
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PURE Property Management of Kansas offers property management services. summary from their website

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Rental Management Solutions provides property management services in Northeast Kansas, including rental search, tenant portal, and owner FAQs. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.6%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Topeka, KS metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
40%
Days Pending
0/2
35 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $326,679
Monthly Rent $927
Price-to-Rent 29.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.4%
Cap Rate 2.2%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.2%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
5.3%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 66546

Population: 1,182

💰 Median Household Income
$80,119
This area
$80,119
State
$67,472
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
12.1%
This area
12.1%
State
22.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
State
-2.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.6%
This area
22.6%
State
17.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
54.5 years
This area
54.5 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.3%
This area
5.3%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 85.8%
Other/Mixed 7.6%
Black/African American 6.0%
Hispanic/Latino 4.9%
Asian 0.5%
👶 Under 18
23.3%
This area
23.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.1%
This area
22.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
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 66546

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
11.3:1 Avg Class Size
$13,420 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Pauline South Intermediate

📚 04 – 06 School
👥
308 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,420 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

4 Nearby 1,242 Off-Campus Students
C
Rasmussen University-Kansas
333 students · 7.3 mi
C
Midwest Barber College
32 students · 7.6 mi
B
Washburn University
5,663 students · 9.7 mi
C+
Washburn Institute of Technology
1,187 students · 10.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,242 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Wakarusa, KS?

Median home price in Wakarusa, KS is near $327K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been measured and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Wakarusa, KS?

Wakarusa, KS is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $327K price point reasonable to enter.

Are renters plentiful in Wakarusa, KS?

Wakarusa, KS draws a stable base of working renters. Demand at the $927/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

What are rental rates like in Wakarusa, KS?

Rental rates in Wakarusa, KS average $927/mo. Tenant demand and $327K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Is KS a landlord-friendly state?

Landlord-friendliness in Wakarusa, KS is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

You know 66546 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 66546 ranks in Topeka, KS

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

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