Wadena County, MN Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Wadena County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,974 | 5,674,785 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 25.7 | 65.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.39% | 0.66% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 40.2 | 36.9 | 37.1 |
| Households | 5,889 | 2,271,841 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Wadena County grew by 5.9% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 14,136 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Wadena County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Wadena County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $58,110 | $88,383 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.60% | 4.81% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.8% | 3.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Wadena County is about 34% lower than in Minnesota.
Housing
| Metric | Wadena County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $208,333 | $243,729 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $706 | $1,234 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.5% | 72.4% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Wadena County is about 24.6 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $706 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Wadena County spend about 33 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 139 hours, about 5.8 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Wadena County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 16.6 | 20.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 33.3 | 41.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 139 | 172 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,298 | $5,323 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 15.9% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,478 | 7,066 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 401 | 854 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Minnesota:
Cook County (10.7 min), Pennington County (10.9 min), Brown County (10.9 min).
Slowest:
Chisago County (30.7 min), Wright County (30.3 min), Sherburne County (30.2 min).
The average commute time in Wadena County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Minnesota.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Wadena County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Wadena County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.8% | 35.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.32 | 2.44 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Minnesota:
Hennepin County (0.4), Olmsted County (0.4), Carver County (0.4).
Lowest:
Nobles County (0.2), Mahnomen County (0.2), Watonwan County (0.2).
Health
Wadena County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Wadena County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 77.9 | 80.8 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 15.6% | 13.0% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 20.2% | 18.5% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Minnesota:
Carver County (0.8), Washington County (0.8), Stevens County (0.8).
Lowest:
Mahnomen County (0.8), Clearwater County (0.8), Beltrami County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Wadena County, Minnesota.
What is the population of Wadena County, Minnesota?
The population of Wadena County, Minnesota is 13,974, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Wadena County, Minnesota?
The population density of Wadena County, Minnesota is 25.7 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Wadena County, Minnesota?
The median household income in Wadena County, Minnesota is $58,110, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Wadena County, Minnesota?
The median home price in Wadena County, Minnesota is $208,333, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Wadena County, Minnesota?
The unemployment rate in Wadena County, Minnesota is 5.8%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.