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CITY

Waite Park

Minnesota · 8,450 residents (2025 est.) · 12.628 sq mi
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The short version

Waite Park has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $59,285. Population has grown 28% since 2000. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $219,400. The poverty rate of 21.2% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 33% less than the Minnesota median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 28%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
8,399
+28%since 2000
from 6,568 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
665 / sq mi
+28%since 2000
from 520 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.1
+30%since 2000
from 29.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:8,450 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K6K7K8K9K1990201020202024Waite Park
20248K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,285
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,803 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,293
+65%since 2000
from $17,796 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
39.6%
+25.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
21.2%
+9.2 ptssince 2000
from 12.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.404
+10%since 2010
from 0.368 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance8.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services1.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$219,400
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $94,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,117
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $563 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
51.3%
+12.1 ptssince 2000
from 39.2% in 2000
48.7% rent
Vacancy rate
3.5%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
23.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 24.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
57.4%
+11.2 ptssince 2009
from 46.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.7
+33%since 2000
from 2.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
35
RELATED:See current rent listings in Waite Park on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.1%(6,047)
Black0.7%(46)
Hispanic / Latino2%(132)
Asian3.5%(230)
Other0%
Diversity Score15.1%(991)
2024
White, non-Hispanic51.7%(4,340)
Black35.5%(2,983)
Hispanic / Latino9.1%(766)
Asian1.6%(131)
Other2.1%(179)
Diversity Score74.7%(6,277)
Diversity Score
75
+395%since 2000
from 15 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.1%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 16.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
82.4%
−3.5 ptssince 2000
from 85.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 5.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.7 min
+63%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.2%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 81.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.0%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.8%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.7%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.5%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 11.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.0%
−3.3 ptssince 2011
from 69.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
21.9%
−34.9 ptssince 2009
from 56.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.5%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
54.5%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
28.0%
+24.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.4%
−41.3 ptssince 2009
from 46.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.8%
+4.9 ptssince 2012
from 12.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.8%
−90.6 ptssince 2013
from 94.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.2%
+8.8 ptssince 2017
from 76.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
67.7%
−14.5 ptssince 2016
from 82.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.8%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 7.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Waite Park to nearby cities

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Income$61,374+4%
Home value$225,000+3%
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WAITE PARK VS
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WAITE PARK VS
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WAITE PARK VS
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Population15,670+85%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Waite Park, Minnesota?

Waite Park, Minnesota has about 8,399 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Waite Park, Minnesota?

The typical household in Waite Park, Minnesota earns about $59,285 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Waite Park, Minnesota expensive?

In Waite Park, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $219,400, and the typical rent is about $1,117 a month.

How educated are people in Waite Park, Minnesota?

About 20.1% of adults age 25 and over in Waite Park, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Waite Park, Minnesota?

About 21.2% of people in Waite Park, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Waite Park, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Waite Park, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,379 residents, a change of about 67 percent over that period.

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

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