Watonwan County, Minnesota Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Watonwan County is located in Minnesota with a total population of 11,169. It is the 65th most populous county out of 87 in Minnesota. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Watonwan County is 40.6 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Watonwan County is $70,593. This is 19% lower than the state median of $87,556. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 10% lower. The poverty rate stands at 13.0%. This is 42% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 40% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $151,600. Housing costs are 50% lower than the state median of $305,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Watonwan County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 72.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Watonwan County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 69.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 29.1%. The Black or African American population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 6.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (29.1% vs 6.2%). The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 5.0%.

Education

18.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 53% 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 88.4%.