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COUNTY

Wadena County

Minnesota · 14,388 residents (2025 est.) · 536.347 sq mi
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The short version

Wadena County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $61,467. Population has held roughly steady 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 $173,000. Households here earn about 31% less than the Minnesota median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 47%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
14,256
+4%since 2000
from 13,713 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
27 / sq mi
+7%since 2009
from 25 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.0
Unchangedsince 2000
from 39.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:14,388 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
13K13K14K14K14K1990201020202024Wadena County
202414K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57.1%(1,017)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.6%(1,079)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.8%(969)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.1%(1,007)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.7%(666)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.4%(1,487)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.3%(1,617)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.9%(1,700)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.9%(1,833)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.6%(1,649)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845%(710)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.7%(522)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$61,467
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,651 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,541
+115%since 2000
from $15,146 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
40.8%
+25.0 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.5%
−1.6 ptssince 2000
from 14.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.420
−1%since 2010
from 0.423 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction5.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance5.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Transportation & warehousing5%
US avg: 2.2%
Professional, scientific, technical4.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$173,000
+47%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $64,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$746
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $337 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.6%
−4.1 ptssince 2000
from 77.6% in 2000
26.4% rent
Vacancy rate
13.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.2%
−8.7 ptssince 2009
from 27.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
31.8%
−12.7 ptssince 2009
from 44.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.8
−10%since 2009
from 3.1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
53
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wadena County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.3%(13,340)
Black0.5%(65)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(128)
Asian0.2%(25)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic86.1%(12,277)
Black1.7%(243)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(345)
Asian0.3%(44)
Other9.4%(1,347)
Diversity Score
31
+263%since 2009
from 9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
25
+167%since 2020
from 9 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.9%(265)
Puerto Rican0.2%(28)
Uruguayan0.1%(12)
Cuban0%(2)
Asian origin
Filipino0.1%(12)
Korean0%(5)
Laotian0%(4)
Chinese0%(2)
Ancestry
German32.7%(4,667)
Norwegian12.8%(1,822)
Finnish11.8%(1,679)
Irish7%(993)
Swedish6.2%(887)
English5.2%(740)
American3.7%(527)
Polish2.1%(302)
French1.8%(254)
Danish1.4%(199)
Czech1%(144)
+ 23 more ancestry groups with data
Italian0.7%(105)
Dutch0.7%(103)
Scottish0.7%(95)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(56)
Welsh0.4%(56)
Russian0.3%(41)
Iranian0.2%(28)
Belgian0.2%(27)
Swiss0.1%(21)
Brazilian0.1%(18)
Croatian0.1%(12)
Portuguese0.1%(12)
West Indian0.1%(12)
Jamaican0.1%(12)
Ukrainian0.1%(11)
Hungarian0.1%(9)
Arab0%(3)
British0%(3)
Greek0%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Finnish population · Largest Irish population · Largest Swedish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.8%
+6.4 ptssince 2000
from 13.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.6%
+13.1 ptssince 2000
from 79.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.9%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 4.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.3 min
+55%since 2000
from 13.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.7%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 76.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 6.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.4%
+4.2 ptssince 2011
from 58.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.9%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.4%
−29.2 ptssince 2009
from 59.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Female
50.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Foreign born
1.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.0%
−41.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.3%
−1.5 ptssince 2012
from 16.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.5%
−85.3 ptssince 2013
from 90.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.8%
+15.5 ptssince 2017
from 69.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2016
from 96.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 0.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married30.9%(1,728)
Married53%(2,966)
Widowed4.2%(235)
Divorced11.9%(665)
Women 15+
Never married24.6%(1,378)
Married52.1%(2,918)
Widowed10.6%(595)
Divorced12.6%(706)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Wadena County to nearby counties

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Home value$282,600+63%
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WADENA COUNTY VS
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Home value$207,700+20%
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WADENA COUNTY VS
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WADENA COUNTY VS
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Income$68,874+12%
Home value$288,300+67%
Population31,430+118%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Wadena County, Minnesota?

Wadena County, Minnesota has about 14,256 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Wadena County, Minnesota?

The typical household in Wadena County, Minnesota earns about $61,467 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wadena County, Minnesota expensive?

In Wadena County, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $173,000, and the typical rent is about $746 a month.

How educated are people in Wadena County, Minnesota?

About 19.8% of adults age 25 and over in Wadena County, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wadena County, Minnesota?

About 12.5% of people in Wadena County, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wadena County, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Wadena County, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,102 residents, a change of about 8 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 4802Census Tract 4803Census Tract 4801
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 56482ZIP 56464ZIP 56477ZIP 56481
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →