Brick c.1901 Three Bedroom Kansas Victorian Home $100K

311 S 6th St, Hiawatha, KS 66434    $100,000

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This was the home of Moses Walters (1840-1915). He was a well-known and well-loved farmer who lived in the home with his second wife Martha (aka Mattie) and four children. After the death of Moses in 1915 , Mattie remarried in 1923 at age 78  and lived in the home with her second husband G.Kingle.

Per The Kansas Democrat, December 9, 1915

“Moses Walter was born in Richland county, Ohio, March 30, 1840, and was one of twelve sons of Moses and Anna Walters, eleven of whom grew to manhood. He died at his home in Hiawatha, December 3, 1915, being at the time 74 years, 8 months and 3 days.

He was an old soldier, having served four years in the Civil War in Company C, 64th Ohio Volunteer infantry. Soon after the war he was married to Miss Belle Palm, to whom two children were born, one or whom, Frank, of Cedar, Kans. survives, the other, Mrs. Robert Frazer, is deceased.

He married again in 1873, to Martha Bechtel and has made his home in and near Hiawatha ever since. To them were born three sons and one daughter, Meade, Bryon and Ralph and Mrs. George Brown, who died at her home near Leona a few years since. He is survived by his widow, four sons ten grandchildren and two brothers, Silas of this city and Mitchell, of Bellville, Ohio.

The funeral was from the house at half past three Sunday afternoon and was in charge of the G.A.R. The religious services were conducted by L.L. Hassenpflug and Rev. T. J. Ream and body was laid to rest in the Hiawatha cemetery.

Mose Walters, as we all called him, was one of the fine men of this city and county. He was a farmer and a good one and amassed a goodly portion of this world’s goods and leaves his widow and children well provided for. He was of a jovial nature and kindly disposition and there was always some fun going on when Uncle Mose was around.”

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Pros of Living in Hiawatha, KS

1. Small-Town, Close-Knit Community

   • Population is small: about 3,223 people per Data USA.

   • With a small town, there tends to be more community familiarity and potential for strong local relationships.

   • Very low average commute time — Data USA reports an average commute of 12.3 minutes.

2. Affordable (or Relatively Affordable) Housing

   • According to HomeSnacks, median rent is about $687.

   • Zillow shows typical home values around $136,801 (with a 10.5% increase in the last year).

   • HomeSnacks also reports a median home value of $85,100, indicating that more affordable homes may exist.

3. Moderate Income

   • The median household income (per Data USA) is $65,058, which is fairly solid for a small rural city.

   • Per capita income is $31,389 (Census Reporter).

4. Homeownership Possible

   • The homeownership rate in Hiawatha is ~70.5% (Data USA), which is quite high.

   • Older housing stock might be available (or more affordable) for people willing to invest in maintenance.

5. Reasonable Poverty Rate

   • Data USA reports 11.3% of people are below the poverty line, which is not extremely high for a small city.

   • This suggests while poverty exists, it’s not overwhelming, depending on how it’s distributed.

6. Schools / Education System

   • Hiawatha falls under Unified School District 415. According to Census Reporter, the median household income for that district is $67,336 and the poverty rate in the school district is ~9.9%.

   • Smaller school districts can mean more personalized attention, though program variety might be more limited than in a large district.

7. Stable or Declining Crime in Some Areas

   • According to HomeSnacks, violent crime is below the national average (339.6 per 100k in Hiawatha vs ~369.8 national).

   • There were 0 murders reported in the last HomeSnacks data period.

   • AreaVibes notes property crime is slightly above the national average, but not dramatically so.

8. Natural / Historic Charm

   • While not as big as a metro, small Kansas towns like Hiawatha often have a strong sense of local history, quiet streets, and a more relaxed pace. (Inferred from town size + demographics.)

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Cons / Challenges of Living in Hiawatha, KS

1. Crime Risks (Especially Property Crime)

   • HomeSnacks reports property crime is 10.6% above the national average in Hiawatha.

   • According to CrimeGrade, the cost of crime per resident is relatively high: ~$500 per person.

   • Crime is not uniformly distributed: some neighborhoods (central) may be riskier than others.

2. Limited Population / Economic Opportunities

   • With a small population (~3,200), job markets may be limited, especially for specialized or high-paying roles.

   • According to LocalObserverDaily, more than half of households may earn under $50,000 (depending on data interpretations).

   • Unemployment could be a concern; different sources vary (HomeSnacks reports 7.2% in some context).

3. Slow Demographic Growth / Aging Population

   • Median age is relatively high at 41.8 years (Data USA).

   • An older population may mean fewer young professionals, potentially less dynamism in local economy.

4. Limited Diversity

   • According to Data USA, Hiawatha is ~86% White (non-Hispanic).

   • For someone who highly values cultural or ethnic diversity, this might be a drawback.

5. Housing Market Risk

   • While many homes are affordable, Rocket.com notes that the median list price is rising: their June 2025 report shows a +34.6% YOY increase in list price.

   • That could make affordability more challenging for future buyers if the trend continues.

6. Poverty and Income Inequality

   • ~11% poverty rate (Census Reporter) means a nontrivial portion of residents struggle economically.

   • Some households may face limited upward mobility given the small-town job market.

7. Education Limitations

   • While a good high school rate may exist, only ~14.2% of residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher (per Wikipedia).

   • That could limit opportunities in careers that require advanced education, unless people are okay commuting or remote working.

8. Fewer Amenities & Entertainment Options

   • Being small, Hiawatha likely doesn’t offer the breadth of cultural, dining, or entertainment amenities that a larger city would.

   • Access to major hospitals, large shopping centers, or specialized services may require driving to a bigger city.

9. Potential Isolation

   • For people used to urban life, the slower pace and potential social isolation in a small community may be a con.

   • Public transit is likely minimal or nonexistent; most households own 2 cars (Data USA).

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