Wadena County, Minnesota Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Wadena County is located in Minnesota with a total population of 14,135. It is the 58th most populous county out of 87 in Minnesota. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wadena County is 40.1 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wadena County is $56,882. This is 35% lower than the state median of $87,556. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 28% lower. The poverty rate stands at 11.4%. This is 24% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.8%. This is 48% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $170,500. Housing costs are 44% lower than the state median of $305,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 72.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

Wadena County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.3%. The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 6.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 6.2%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 5.0%.

Education

17.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 55% lower than the state rate of 38.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.4%.