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CITY

Wadena

Minnesota · 4,341 residents (2025 est.) · 5.532 sq mi
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The short version

Wadena has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $56,080. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $160,800. Households here earn about 37% less than the Minnesota median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 66%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
4,419
+3%since 2000
from 4,294 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
799 / sq mi
+3%since 2000
from 776 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.2
−4%since 2000
from 40.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:4,341 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
4K4K4K4K4K1990201020202024Wadena
20244K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,080
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,947 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,596
+104%since 2000
from $15,452 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
32.7%
+18.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.7%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 15.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.427
−3%since 2010
from 0.442 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade23.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Transportation & warehousing8.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Wholesale trade7%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration6%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance5.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$160,800
+66%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$684
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $326 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
58.1%
−5.7 ptssince 2000
from 63.8% in 2000
41.9% rent
Vacancy rate
2.1%
−7.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.9%
−6.5 ptssince 2009
from 26.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.2%
−14.0 ptssince 2009
from 52.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.9
+45%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
60
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wadena on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.5%(4,187)
Black0.8%(36)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(26)
Asian0.2%(8)
Other0%
Diversity Score4.1%(174)
2024
White, non-Hispanic77.9%(3,444)
Black1.8%(81)
Hispanic / Latino4.5%(200)
Asian0%(0)
Other15.7%(694)
Diversity Score45.7%(2,019)
Diversity Score
46
+1025%since 2000
from 4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.8%
+12.4 ptssince 2000
from 78.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.3%
−3.2 ptssince 2000
from 7.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.1 min
+35%since 2000
from 11.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.6%
+5.9 ptssince 2009
from 76.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.3%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
5.6%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
14.9%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2011
from 6.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.2%
+9.2 ptssince 2011
from 57.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
8.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
26.5%
−31.9 ptssince 2009
from 58.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
Female
52.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 52.3% in 2009
Foreign born
1.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.0%
−34.0 ptssince 2009
from 42.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
20.1%
+1.6 ptssince 2012
from 18.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.5%
−81.4 ptssince 2013
from 88.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
82.4%
+19.2 ptssince 2017
from 63.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.2%
−1.1 ptssince 2016
from 97.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.4%
+1.4 ptssince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Wadena, Minnesota?

Wadena, Minnesota has about 4,419 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Wadena, Minnesota?

The typical household in Wadena, Minnesota earns about $56,080 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wadena, Minnesota expensive?

In Wadena, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $160,800, and the typical rent is about $684 a month.

How educated are people in Wadena, Minnesota?

About 17.6% of adults age 25 and over in Wadena, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wadena, Minnesota?

About 17.7% of people in Wadena, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wadena, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Wadena, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 276 residents, a change of about 7 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Wadena, Minnesota: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy