The Town FilesWakarusa, Indiana
Town in Elkhart County · population 1,998 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $207,200
- Household income
- $74,464
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 39.4
Wakarusa is a town of 1,998 people in Elkhart County, Indiana. The median home is worth $207,200, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks better for families than 90% of Indiana towns, better for cycling than 81% of Indiana towns, better for young professionals than 80% of Indiana towns.
How Wakarusa ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Wakarusa is worth $207,200, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $74,464, which is more affordable than 34% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $955 a month. 85.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wakarusa | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $207,200 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $955 | $888 |
| Median household income | $74,464 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 85.2% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wakarusa
| People | Wakarusa | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.2% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.5% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 29.8 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.8% | 89.2% |
Weather in Wakarusa
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 17.8°F. About 39.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.2 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wakarusa since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 1.1 miles from the town center and killed 31. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 65 deaths and 575 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on August 8, 2005.
Severe weather in Elkhart County since 1996
Elkhart County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
| May 4, 2018 | Flood | DR-4363: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| January 30, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1740: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Elkhart County
Elkhart County had 127,100 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,117 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Wakarusa itself the ACS puts it at 10.1%.
Public schools in Wakarusa
3 public schools with 1,346 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Wood Middle School | 6-8 | 657 | 13.7 |
| Wakarusa Elementary School | K-5 | 557 | 15.5 |
| Madison Elementary School | K-5 | 132 | 12.0 |
Towns near Wakarusa
- Nappanee, IN5.9 mi · 6,949 people · home $238,600
- Dunlap, IN8.6 mi · 6,442 people · home $222,200
- Bremen, IN9.1 mi · 4,696 people · home $211,700
- Osceola, IN9.9 mi · 2,590 people · home $196,900
- New Paris, IN9.9 mi · 1,587 people · home $223,700
- Goshen, IN9.9 mi · 34,517 people · home $184,900
- Elkhart, IN11.4 mi · 53,923 people · home $139,500
- Milford, IN11.8 mi · 1,614 people · home $159,700
Wakarusa questions
Is Wakarusa, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wakarusa scores better for retirees than 79% of Indiana towns and quieter than 77%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Wakarusa?
The median owner-occupied home in Wakarusa is valued at $207,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,464, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $955 a month.
What is the weather like in Wakarusa?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 17.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.9 inches of precipitation a year and 45.2 inches of snow.
Does Wakarusa get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wakarusa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)