Population 14,256 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Wadena County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Wadena County
Household size in Wadena County
| Period | Wadena County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.25 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.34 | 2.54 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.35 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.31 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.06 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Wadena County are small: just 2.31 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.25, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Wadena County
| Period | Wadena County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.0 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.2 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.8 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.6 | 40.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.4 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Wadena County are younger than 41.6 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is older than in Minnesota as a whole, where the median age is 40.0. The median age has dropped from 43.0 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Wadena County
| Period | Wadena County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.6% | 9.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.3% | 9.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Wadena County (11.3%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Minnesota overall (9.6%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 1.6 points, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Wadena County
Renters in Wadena County
| Period | Wadena County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.6% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.5% | 27.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.5% | 28.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.4% | 27.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Wadena County own their homes; 26.4% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. About four in ten owners (38.8%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the southwest; owners are most common in the east. The renter share has risen 2.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Wadena County
| Period | Wadena County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.7% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.6% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.2% | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.7% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.0 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
More homes sit empty in Wadena County than nationally: 12.7%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Wadena County
| Period | Wadena County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1973 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1971 | 1975 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Wadena County run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1974 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1970 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the southwest has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Wadena County
| Period | Wadena County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $512 | $882 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $624 | $953 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $713 | $1,099 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $790 | $1,404 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$278 | +$522 | +$606 |
The median renter in Wadena County pays $790 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $278 a month since 2006–10, up 54%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 24.6% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Wadena County
Bachelor's degrees in Wadena County
| Period | Wadena County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.4% | 32.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 33.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.9% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.1% | 39.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Wadena County: 20.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 5.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Wadena County
| Period | Wadena County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.9% | 91.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.4% | 92.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.7% | 93.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.6% | 93.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Wadena County is above the national rate: 92.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Minnesota. The share with a diploma is up 4.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Wadena County
| Period | Wadena County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.1% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.6% | 6.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Wadena County is close to the national rate: 5.5% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Minnesota as a whole (4.1%). Few Minnesota counties have higher unemployment: only six of 87.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Wadena County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wadena County | 2.31 | 41.6 | 11.3% | 26.4% | 12.7% | 1974 | $790 | 20.1% | 92.6% | 5.5% |
| Todd County | 2.49 | 43.1 | 9.3% | 17.0% | 18.9% | 1973 | $951 | 16.2% | 89.9% | 3.9% |
| Cass County | 2.44 | 48.2 | 8.9% | 13.8% | 38.9% | 1990 | $976 | 25.7% | 94.0% | 6.9% |
| Otter Tail County | 2.41 | 45.9 | 6.5% | 20.5% | 24.5% | 1978 | $900 | 27.7% | 94.0% | 4.5% |
| Hubbard County | 2.44 | 48.3 | 7.1% | 16.9% | 33.2% | 1986 | $963 | 30.5% | 94.0% | 4.5% |
| Becker County | 2.45 | 44.3 | 9.1% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 1980 | $984 | 28.2% | 93.2% | 4.4% |
| Crow Wing County | 2.28 | 46.3 | 8.3% | 23.0% | 23.3% | 1986 | $1,039 | 29.2% | 94.6% | 5.2% |
| Wilkin County | 2.34 | 42.1 | 9.5% | 20.3% | 10.6% | 1968 | $1,167 | 22.1% | 93.2% | 4.3% |
| Aitkin County | 2.20 | 55.2 | 5.5% | 14.7% | 44.6% | 1982 | $1,018 | 20.3% | 94.6% | 5.8% |
| Clay County | 2.41 | 35.1 | 9.2% | 34.1% | 5.1% | 1983 | $1,030 | 39.3% | 94.9% | 4.0% |
| Richland County | 2.25 | 39.1 | 7.9% | 31.9% | 8.7% | 1971 | $697 | 25.4% | 94.4% | 1.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Ringgold County, IA · Guadalupe County, NM · Guanica Municipio, PR · Gulf County, FL · Hamlin County, SD · Hancock County, GA · Hancock County, IA · Randolph County, AR · Ray County, MO · Richland County, MT
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Wadena County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.