The Town FilesWanatah, Indiana
Town in LaPorte County · population 1,009 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $195,100
- Household income
- $68,409
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 35.4
Wanatah is a town of 1,009 people in LaPorte County, Indiana. The median home is worth $195,100, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks easier by car than 94% of Indiana towns, quieter than 87% of Indiana towns, better for families than 73% of Indiana towns.
How Wanatah 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 Wanatah is worth $195,100, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $68,409, which is more affordable than 29% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $978 a month. 89.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wanatah | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $195,100 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $978 | $888 |
| Median household income | $68,409 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 89.3% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wanatah
| People | Wanatah | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.9% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 28.4 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Wanatah
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 15.3°F. About 39.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.6 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wanatah since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 11, 2026 about 3.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 18, 1955.
Severe weather in LaPorte County since 1996
LaPorte County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2026 | Flood | DR-4933: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 15, 2026 | Flood | EM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in LaPorte County
LaPorte County had 40,632 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,978 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Wanatah itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Wanatah
1 public school with 134 students, about 9.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tri-Township Elementary School | PK-6 | 134 | 9.6 |
Towns near Wanatah
- Westville, IN7.4 mi · 5,257 people · home $139,300
- La Crosse, IN7.8 mi · 555 people · home $140,700
- Valparaiso, IN9.0 mi · 34,151 people · home $267,300
- Kouts, IN10.5 mi · 2,028 people · home $235,400
- Kingsford Heights, IN10.8 mi · 1,335 people · home $120,500
- Aberdeen, IN11.6 mi · 2,117 people · home $367,100
- Shorewood Forest, IN13.4 mi · 3,033 people · home $479,100
- Salt Creek Commons, IN14.0 mi · 1,979 people · home $198,300
Wanatah questions
Is Wanatah, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wanatah scores better for retirees than 41% of Indiana towns and quieter than 87%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.4).
How much does a house cost in Wanatah?
The median owner-occupied home in Wanatah is valued at $195,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,409, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $978 a month.
What is the weather like in Wanatah?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 15.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.4 inches of precipitation a year and 33.6 inches of snow.
Does Wanatah get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wanatah since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 11, 2026. 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)