United States › Minnesota › Watonwan County COUNTY
Watonwan County Minnesota · 11,459 residents (2025 est.) · 435 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 11,205 people, Watonwan County is a county in Minnesota. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Few US counties rank higher on income. 78% of homes are owner-occupied. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $162,400. There are 26 people per square mile.
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 from 11,876 in 2000
11,459 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 25 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 38.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
11K 11K 11K 12K 12K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Watonwan County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $71,699
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,441 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $16,413 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 20.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 9.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.398 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 7.5%
Professional, scientific, technical 6.4%
Public administration 3.5%
Education & health services 2.5%
Transportation & warehousing 1.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.7%
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$162,400
+43%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$834
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $338 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 77.1% in 2000
22.2% rent
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.43 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 18.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 27.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.0 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 82.9%(9,848)
Hispanic / Latino 15.2%(1,804)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 67.7%(7,581)
Hispanic / Latino 30.4%(3,401)
from 45 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
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 Ancestry
+ 18 more ancestry groups with data from 13.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 75.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 2.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 75.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 69.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 77.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 27.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 11.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 12.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 62.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 86.8% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 95.0% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 79.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 18.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 34.2%(1,511)
Women 15+
Never married 26.9%(1,169)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 12.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 48.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 18.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 23.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 20.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 65.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 41.3% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 15.4%(81)
Gulf War (1990s) 10.3%(54)
Share of the 525 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Watonwan County Head to head
Compare Watonwan County to nearby counties WATONWAN COUNTY VS
Brown County
Income $69,378 −3%
Home value $191,200 +18%
Population 25,517 +123%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATONWAN COUNTY VS
Martin County
Income $59,507 −17%
Home value $163,500 +1%
Population 19,440 +70%
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WATONWAN COUNTY VS
Blue Earth County
Income $74,477 +4%
Home value $266,700 +64%
Population 70,634 +516%
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WATONWAN COUNTY VS
Cottonwood County
Income $72,941 +2%
Home value $169,300 +4%
Population 11,405 same
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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