KSMap-doton-Wetmore, 2005
Wetmore’s story
160 years in pictures
Census counts: 340 in 1880, a peak of 522 in 1890, 348 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2005 and 5 maps from 1888 on.
- 1866Wetmore is founded
WetmoreKS
This town of 338 people was founded in 1866.
Population
338
2025 Census estimate · −3.7% since 2020
Typical home
$169K
+9.6% in a year
Household income
$69K
median
Median age
29.8
years
Jobs based here
16
A commuter town
Is Wetmore a good place to live?
Only 2 of the 152 Kansas towns we compare have a lower January low than Wetmore. Wetmore has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
338 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Wetmore: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Wetmore, and how to reach them.
PowerEvergy14.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Wetmore water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Wetmore’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Kansas you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person until 21 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereNemaha County ClerkNemaha County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2019
ZIP code6655066550 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Wetmore.
Work & commute
A smaller share of working residents work locally in Wetmore than in most of Kansas or the rest of the country
5.8% of Wetmore residents live below the poverty line, below both Kansas’ towns (9.1%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). For Wetmore, the average trip to work is 30 minutes. Half commute less than 21 miles. The top destinations are Seneca (23%), Topeka (9%) and Sabetha (5%).
1%work in town
| Wetmore | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 30 minutes | 20 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.1% | 15% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.8% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $69,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Wetmore1%
Seneca23%
Topeka9%
Sabetha5%
Onaga5%
21 mi
median commute distance
16
jobs based in Wetmore
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Housing
The typical home in Wetmore: about $169K
Values rose 9.6% in the 12 months to September 2026. Wetmore: 85% of households live in a home they own.
$169KZillow home value
Typical home value
Wetmore$169K
Kansas$246K
+9.6%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
The climate in Wetmore brings four seasons and hot summers
For Wetmore, the midsummer high is 89°F.
12″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter19–40°
Spring41–65°
Summer64–87°
Fall42–67°
Oct 14
typical first frost
Apr 24
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Wetmore is
In Wetmore, 33% of adults sleep under 7 hours. 17% of Wetmore adults smoke cigarettes, above both the Kansas town median (15%) and the median of U.S. towns (14%).
| Wetmore | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 37% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 35% | 36% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 15% | 14% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 16% | 16% |
32 measures vs. Kansas
0 better31 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Wetmore | KS |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 15.5% | 11.3% |
Holton Community Hospital
11.1 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Natural hazards: moderate risk in Wetmore, mostly inland flooding
One declared disaster, in 2007, has brought federal aid to Wetmore households. On expected storm and flood damage, Wetmore sits above 53% of U.S. communities. FEMA puts two fifths of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 20% to tornadoes.
53risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesWildfire
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 244 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Wetmore Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Wetmore
17pages on Wetmore
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Wetmore; the nearest are
Highland Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Highland32.6 mi$4,080 in-state tuitionWashburn UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Topeka42 mi$9,945 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Wetmore residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Kansas.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Wetmore for work
Where Wetmore’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
16jobs based in Wetmore
1%of working residents work in town
21 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Questions about Wetmore
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Wetmore, KS a good place to live?
Wetmore has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What is Wetmore, KS known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Lee E. Geyer and Zip Zabel.