Verndale, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Verndale, Minnesota had a total population of 452, the 525th largest city in Minnesota, with a median household income of $49,063, which is 45% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 16.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 45% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x.
Verndale Quick Facts
How Verndale Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 479 | 452 | -5.6% |
| Median household income | $44,083 | $49,063 | +11.3% |
| Median home value | $105,500 | $104,600 | -0.9% |
How Verndale Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 41 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Verndale Rankings in Minnesota
Explore Minnesota Rankings
Other Cities in Wadena County
Cities Similar to Verndale
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crown College | 422 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Elmore | 451 | $41,250 | $46,700 | 9.8% | 24.4% |
| Erskine | 427 | $44,844 | $117,100 | 13.3% | 9.4% |
| Upsala | 417 | $52,625 | $147,500 | 12.8% | 7.7% |
| Kiester | 494 | $52,727 | $58,800 | 9.7% | 21.5% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 452, Verndale's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Verndale is a small community located in Minnesota, within Wadena County. The total population is 452. It ranks as the 525th most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Verndale is 36.8 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 38.8 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Verndale is $49,063. This is 45% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 39% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.2%. This is 74% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.7%. This is 9% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $104,600. Housing costs are 68% lower than the state median of $329,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Verndale is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 88.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% higher than the state average of 72.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Verndale has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.5% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 4.2%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 5.1%.
Education
13.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 65% lower than the state rate of 39.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Verndale, Minnesota is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Minnesota state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Verndale, Minnesota?
Verndale, Minnesota has a population of 452 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Verndale, MN?
The median household income in Verndale is $49,063, which is 39% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Verndale, MN?
The poverty rate in Verndale is 16.2%. This means approximately 73 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Verndale, Minnesota?
Verndale's population is 92.5% White, 4.2% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.2% Asian.
What is the median home value in Verndale, MN?
The median home value in Verndale is $104,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.1x.
How educated is Verndale, Minnesota?
13.6% of adults (25+) in Verndale hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.