At a Glance
Median Income
$45,850
$26,876 per capita
Home Value
$158,700
Zillow: $208,346
Median Rent
$683/mo
29.4% of income on rent
Violent Crime
244/100K
1,855/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
13.0%
88.5% high school+
Unemployment
5.6%
14.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.8%
19.6% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
40°F
276 sunny days/yr
How Wadena Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Wadena's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Wadena a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.7 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Wadena residents earn a median household income of $45,850 , which is 39% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $26,876. The unemployment rate stands at 5.6% (56% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 14.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,908 business establishments, including 165 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Wadena is $158,700 , 44% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $208,346. Median rent is $683/month, with 29.4% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 98.6 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1965.
Safety & Crime
Wadena reports 244 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 36% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,855/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
13.0% of adults in Wadena hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(61% below the national average).
88.5% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.0/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Wadena has an average annual temperature of 40°F (5°C).
Winters average 8°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. The area gets 276 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 29.3 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 36.
Data Overview
People
Population4,361
Median Age36.5 yrs
Density789/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans7.1%
Economy
C+
Median Income$45,850
Per Capita$26,876
Unemployment5.6%
Poverty14.5%
County GDP$3,285M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,000
Housing
A+
Home Value$158,700
Rent$683
Ownership52.6%
Zillow$208,346
Housing Units2,167
Rent Burden29.4%
Crime
F
Violent244/100K
Property1,855/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault146/100K
Burglary98/100K
Health
Obesity39.8%
Diabetes10.7%
Smoking19.6%
Heart Disease6.2%
Premature Death6,919/100K
Climate
Avg Temp40°F
Sunny Days276/yr
Rain29.3 in/yr
AQI36 (Good)
Elevation1,332 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+13.0%
High School+88.5%
Graduate+3.2%
School Score6.0/10
Community
2024 VoteR 66% / D 32%
Commute15 min
Broadband85.5%
Internet Speed274 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries5
Did You Know?
The median home in Wadena was built in 1965.
The nearest airport is Brainerd Lakes Regional (47 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.434 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
19.1% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 274 Mbps.
There are 165 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 9 fatal vehicle crashes.
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