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COUNTY

Watonwan County

Minnesota · 11,459 residents (2025 est.) · 434.947 sq mi
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The short version

Watonwan County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $71,699. Population has declined 6% since 2000. 17% 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 $162,400. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 43%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
11,205
−6%since 2000
from 11,876 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
26 / sq mi
+2%since 2009
from 25 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.8
+6%since 2000
from 38.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:11,459 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
11K11K11K12K12K1990201020202024Watonwan County
202411K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57.9%(881)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.4%(832)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.5%(728)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.9%(774)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.5%(611)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.1%(1,241)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 449.9%(1,105)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.6%(1,301)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.1%(1,467)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.1%(1,244)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.9%(656)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.3%(365)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$71,699
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,441 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,869
+119%since 2000
from $16,413 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
47.9%
+27.7 ptssince 2009
from 20.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.2%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 9.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.439
+10%since 2010
from 0.398 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade10.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Information10.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance8.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction7.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical6.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services2.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$162,400
+43%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$834
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $338 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 77.1% in 2000
22.2% rent
Vacancy rate
13.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.0%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 18.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
30.5%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 27.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
+12%since 2009
from 2.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
51
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Watonwan County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic82.9%(9,848)
Black0.3%(36)
Hispanic / Latino15.2%(1,804)
Asian0.8%(100)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic67.7%(7,581)
Black0%(4)
Hispanic / Latino30.4%(3,401)
Asian0.3%(36)
Other1.6%(183)
Diversity Score
56
+26%since 2009
from 45 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
31
+34%since 2020
from 23 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
Mexican21%(2,357)
Guatemalan5%(559)
Salvadoran2.4%(270)
Honduran0.4%(43)
Spaniard0.3%(30)
Puerto Rican0.1%(15)
Colombian0.1%(11)
Asian origin
Hmong0.1%(11)
Laotian0.1%(9)
Filipino0.1%(8)
Korean0%(5)
Thai0%(2)
Chinese0%(1)
Ancestry
German35.1%(3,929)
Norwegian15.3%(1,714)
Swedish6.9%(771)
Irish5.5%(617)
American5.2%(580)
English4.1%(459)
French0.9%(102)
Dutch0.9%(97)
Danish0.9%(96)
Italian0.9%(96)
Polish0.8%(87)
British0.5%(51)
+ 18 more ancestry groups with data
Czech0.4%(46)
Russian0.4%(44)
Scottish0.4%(44)
Welsh0.3%(38)
Swiss0.2%(26)
Greek0.2%(23)
Belgian0.2%(22)
Portuguese0.1%(13)
Scotch-Irish0.1%(13)
Ukrainian0.1%(13)
Austrian0.1%(11)
Lithuanian0.1%(9)
Arab0%(5)
Slovak0%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Mexican population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Central American population · Largest Swedish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.2%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 13.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.2%
+10.3 ptssince 2000
from 75.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.3%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 2.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.2 min
+74%since 2000
from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
73.0%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 75.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.1%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.4%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.9%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2011
from 5.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.1%
−6.0 ptssince 2011
from 69.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.2%
−27.2 ptssince 2009
from 59.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.8%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
49.2%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
13.0%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.4%
−42.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2012
from 11.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.7%
−76.4 ptssince 2013
from 87.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.5%
+20.9 ptssince 2017
from 62.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
75.2%
−4.4 ptssince 2016
from 79.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
23.4%
+4.9 ptssince 2016
from 18.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married34.2%(1,511)
Married54.3%(2,402)
Widowed3.7%(165)
Divorced7.8%(343)
Women 15+
Never married26.9%(1,169)
Married53.8%(2,335)
Widowed9.9%(431)
Divorced9.4%(408)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Watonwan County to nearby counties

WATONWAN COUNTY VS
Brown County
Income$69,378−3%
Home value$191,200+18%
Population25,517+123%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATONWAN COUNTY VS
Martin County
Income$59,507−17%
Home value$163,500+1%
Population19,440+70%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATONWAN COUNTY VS
Blue Earth County
Income$74,477+4%
Home value$266,700+64%
Population70,634+516%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATONWAN COUNTY VS
Cottonwood County
Income$72,941+2%
Home value$169,300+4%
Population11,405same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Watonwan County, Minnesota?

Watonwan County, Minnesota has about 11,205 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Watonwan County, Minnesota earns about $71,699 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Watonwan County, Minnesota expensive?

In Watonwan County, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $162,400, and the typical rent is about $834 a month.

How educated are people in Watonwan County, Minnesota?

About 17.2% of adults age 25 and over in Watonwan County, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Watonwan County, Minnesota?

About 13.2% of people in Watonwan County, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Watonwan County, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Watonwan County, Minnesota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 477 residents, a change of about -4 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 9502Census Tract 9501Census Tract 9503
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 56081ZIP 56062ZIP 56120ZIP 56060ZIP 56022ZIP 56056
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →