Waseca County, Minnesota Income Statistics
Waseca County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Waseca County Around averageLess wealthy than 76% of counties in Minnesota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Waseca County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $76,286 | $89,852 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,472 | $67,028 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.1% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.7% | 15.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.9% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Waseca County is about 15% lower than in Minnesota. Income has been growing slower in Waseca County (4.1%/yr) than in Minnesota (4.4%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Waseca County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Minnesota average of 15%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Waseca County, Minnesota grew by 41.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $76,286 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Waseca County
| Metric | Waseca County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.508 | 0.507 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $64,496 | $74,898 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $50,815 | $62,922 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.2% | 16.0% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Waseca County, it is 0.508, about the same as Minnesota's 0.507, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 27% more than women's income in Waseca County, Minnesota. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $478,835 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Waseca County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 29% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2013, and was narrowest at 21% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,402 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Waseca County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.5% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.0% | 17.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 239 people are unemployed in Waseca County, Minnesota.
The average commute time in Waseca County is 20 minutes, about the same as in Minnesota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Waseca County, Minnesota has fallen from 5.1% to 2.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.1% in 2012.
Waseca County, MN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Waseca County, MN is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 18,885 residents against a local median of 37,436. Where Waseca County, MN breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 45% below the local median of 4.5% at 2.5%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.5% on unemployment, so Waseca County, MN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Waseca County, MN has the lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waseca County, MN | 18,885 | $76,286 #4/6 | 4.1%/yr #5/6 | 2.5% #1/6 | 0.508 #4/6 |
| Steele County, MN | 37,436 | $84,760 | 4.8%/yr | 3.4% | 0.499 |
| Le Sueur County, MN | 29,116 | $92,665 | 4.9%/yr | 4.2% | 0.478 |
| Freeborn County, MN | 30,623 | $70,120 | 4.6%/yr | 4.6% | 0.495 |
| Rice County, MN | 67,917 | $82,909 | 3.8%/yr | 4.5% | 0.535 |
| Blue Earth County, MN | 69,837 | $74,407 | 4.5%/yr | 4.9% | 0.521 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Waseca County, Minnesota has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat worse than Minnesota, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Waseca County, Minnesota.
How Rich Is Waseca County, Minnesota?
Waseca County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $76,286, about 15% lower than the Minnesota average of $89,852.
How has median household income changed in Waseca County, Minnesota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Waseca County, Minnesota rose 41%, from $53,985 to $76,286. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Minnesota as a whole: +41% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Waseca County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Waseca County, Minnesota was $75,074, up 5% from $71,557 in 2022. The Minnesota median that year was $88,324.
What was the median household income in Waseca County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Waseca County, Minnesota was $60,515. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $76,286.
How strong is the job market in Waseca County, Minnesota?
Unemployment in Waseca County, Minnesota is only 2.5%, well below the Minnesota rate of 4.1%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Waseca County, Minnesota?
The Gini coefficient in Waseca County is 0.508. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Waseca County, Minnesota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Waseca County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 29% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2013, and was narrowest at 21% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,402 since 2009.
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