Population 11,212 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Waseca
Household size in Waseca
| Period | Waseca | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.46 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.54 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.30 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.39 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Waseca is a place of small households, averaging 2.39 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.46, mirroring the country. Households are largest in the west 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
| Period | Waseca | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.8 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.5 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.3 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.0 | 40.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
At 39.0, the median age in Waseca is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The youngest areas are in the south, the oldest in the east.
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
| Period | Waseca | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.1% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.8% | 9.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.1% | 9.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in Waseca (12.1%), 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 edged up 1.0 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 Waseca
Renters in Waseca
| Period | Waseca | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.5% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.5% | 27.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.0% | 28.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.4% | 27.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Waseca is largely a place of homeowners: only 24.4% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 33.0% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 0.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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
| Period | Waseca | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 4.8% of homes in Waseca are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.8 points, as it has nationally.
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
| Period | Waseca | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1973 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1968 | 1975 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +5 | +6 |
Waseca 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 west, the oldest in the east.
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
| Period | Waseca | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $606 | $882 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $606 | $953 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $749 | $1,099 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,004 | $1,404 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$398 | +$522 | +$606 |
The median renter in Waseca pays $1,004 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $398 a month from 2006–10, a 66% jump, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 29.0% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northeast; the highest are in the west.
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
Bachelor's degrees in Waseca
| Period | Waseca | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.0% | 32.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.5% | 33.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.4% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.3% | 39.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Waseca: 19.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Waseca has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five Minnesota cities.
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
| Period | Waseca | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.0% | 91.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.2% | 92.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.9% | 93.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.1% | 93.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Waseca is above the national rate: 93.1% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Minnesota. The share with a diploma has risen 2.1 points since 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 Waseca
| Period | Waseca | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.0% | 6.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Waseca has been strong: just 2.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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 compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waseca | 2.39 | 39.0 | 12.1% | 24.4% | 4.8% | 1966 | $1,004 | 19.3% | 93.1% | 2.9% |
| Meriden | 2.71 | 40.3 | 8.4% | 5.5% | 11.8% | 1956 | $1,210 | 23.5% | 94.5% | 3.2% |
| Otisco | 2.63 | 41.6 | 12.5% | 11.9% | 7.7% | 1970 | $1,242 | 21.4% | 94.5% | 3.5% |
| Vista | 2.71 | 40.2 | 11.3% | 7.5% | 10.4% | 1962 | $1,252 | 20.6% | 93.8% | 3.4% |
| Janesville | 2.52 | 41.7 | 11.7% | 11.7% | 8.4% | 1969 | $858 | 23.6% | 94.1% | 2.8% |
| Waterville | 2.32 | 46.3 | 7.5% | 18.6% | 17.6% | 1970 | $894 | 24.5% | 94.6% | 5.6% |
| Morristown | 2.53 | 41.6 | 8.6% | 19.3% | 7.5% | 1966 | $1,050 | 17.0% | 90.1% | 3.8% |
| Elysian | 2.30 | 47.0 | 7.0% | 11.6% | 25.6% | 1983 | $1,041 | 30.8% | 96.3% | 4.5% |
| Hope | 2.76 | 40.9 | 4.7% | 4.1% | 14.4% | 1947 | $1,205 | 24.5% | 95.8% | 3.2% |
| New Richland | 2.46 | 42.6 | 9.0% | 13.6% | 8.2% | 1953 | $704 | 19.6% | 96.5% | 2.1% |
| Medford | 2.78 | 40.2 | 11.8% | 12.7% | 6.3% | 1987 | $1,221 | 23.9% | 88.0% | 3.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Waldwick, NJ · Cheboygan, MI · Chelsea, AL · Chelsea, MI · Chesapeake Ranch Estates, MD · Chesterland, OH · Chestertown, MD · Chestnut Ridge, NY · Chillicothe, MO · Shasta Lake, CA
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. 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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