Population 18,885 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Waseca County
Household size in Waseca County
| Period | Waseca County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.52 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.43 | 2.54 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.39 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.42 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Waseca County run small, averaging 2.42 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has dropped from 2.52 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the northwest and smallest in the northeast.
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 Waseca County
| Period | Waseca County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.4 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.1 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.3 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.7 | 40.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.3 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Waseca County are younger than 40.7 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.4, in line with the national trend.
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 Waseca County
| Period | Waseca County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 9.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.3% | 9.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Waseca County as they are nationally: 11.3%, against 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Minnesota overall (9.6%). The single-parent share has risen 1.8 points since 2006–10, 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 Waseca County
Renters in Waseca County
| Period | Waseca County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.1% | 27.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.5% | 28.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.3% | 27.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Waseca County is largely a place of homeowners: only 19.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Nearly four in ten owners (37.5%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northwest.
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 Waseca County
| Period | Waseca County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Waseca County: 6.0% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy is down 2.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Waseca County has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Minnesota counties.
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 Waseca County
| Period | Waseca County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1973 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1975 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +5 | +6 |
Waseca County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1966, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Waseca County
| Period | Waseca County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $620 | $882 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $607 | $953 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $739 | $1,099 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $941 | $1,404 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$321 | +$522 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Waseca County costs $941 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $321 a month since 2006–10, up 52%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 28.7% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the center; the most affordable are in the southeast.
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 Waseca County
Bachelor's degrees in Waseca County
| Period | Waseca County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.8% | 32.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.1% | 33.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.5% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.6% | 39.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Waseca County: 20.6% 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 1.9 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the center.
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 Waseca County
| Period | Waseca County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.7% | 91.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.9% | 92.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.0% | 93.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.5% | 93.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Waseca County is above the national rate: 93.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Minnesota as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma has risen 2.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Waseca County
| Period | Waseca County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.8% | 6.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.7% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Waseca County has been strong: just 2.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
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).
Waseca 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waseca County | 2.42 | 40.7 | 11.3% | 19.3% | 6.0% | 1966 | $941 | 20.6% | 93.5% | 2.7% |
| Steele County | 2.48 | 40.7 | 10.2% | 20.6% | 5.8% | 1974 | $1,181 | 27.4% | 93.4% | 3.7% |
| Blue Earth County | 2.43 | 34.1 | 10.6% | 38.6% | 7.3% | 1979 | $1,229 | 34.3% | 94.9% | 5.0% |
| Dodge County | 2.60 | 38.9 | 10.4% | 13.4% | 5.1% | 1980 | $1,127 | 30.6% | 95.5% | 3.3% |
| Watonwan County | 2.66 | 40.2 | 11.5% | 22.2% | 14.3% | 1961 | $831 | 17.3% | 86.2% | 5.6% |
| Olmsted County | 2.52 | 38.8 | 9.0% | 29.4% | 6.7% | 1987 | $1,440 | 49.1% | 94.9% | 3.6% |
| Cottonwood County | 2.42 | 39.7 | 8.3% | 25.6% | 10.5% | 1961 | $822 | 23.5% | 94.1% | 2.7% |
| Winona County | 2.37 | 37.7 | 6.6% | 30.5% | 9.3% | 1968 | $912 | 33.7% | 94.3% | 2.5% |
| Murray County | 2.22 | 46.1 | 6.5% | 17.8% | 12.4% | 1960 | $832 | 23.5% | 91.7% | 2.6% |
| Pipestone County | 2.34 | 40.6 | 8.8% | 19.2% | 8.7% | 1955 | $775 | 22.0% | 92.6% | 3.0% |
| Monroe County | 2.55 | 39.9 | 10.4% | 27.2% | 8.8% | 1979 | $938 | 21.4% | 90.5% | 3.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Floyd County, VA · Roosevelt County, NM · Richland Parish, LA · Fremont County, ID · Freestone County, TX · Franklin Parish, LA · Franklin County, TX · Franklin County, IN · Franklin County, ID · Franklin County, IA
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 Waseca 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.
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