At a Glance
Median Income
$68,958
$33,407 per capita
Home Value
$85,000
Zillow: $176,219
Median Rent
$650/mo
35.0% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
16.0%
92.4% high school+
Unemployment
1.5%
1.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
38.0%
15.9% smoking rate
How Wood Lake Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Wood Lake's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Wood Lake a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.9 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Wood Lake residents earn a median household income of $68,958 , which is 8% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $33,407. The unemployment rate stands at 1.5% (58% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 1.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 388 business establishments, including 24 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Wood Lake is $85,000 , 70% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $176,219. Median rent is $650/month, with 35.0% 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 1943.
Education
16.0% of adults in Wood Lake hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(53% below the national average).
92.4% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.6/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Wood Lake has an average annual temperature of 45°F (7°C).
Winters average 13°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 28.6 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population398
Median Age46.5 yrs
Density531/mi²
Male / Female47% / 53%
Foreign Born0.0%
Veterans13.3%
Economy
A
Median Income$68,958
Per Capita$33,407
Unemployment1.5%
Poverty1.0%
County GDP$784M
Avg Weekly Wage$954
Housing
A+
Home Value$85,000
Rent$650
Ownership86.7%
Zillow$176,219
Housing Units164
Rent Burden35.0%
Health
Obesity38.0%
Diabetes9.2%
Smoking15.9%
Heart Disease5.2%
Premature Death8,670/100K
Climate
Avg Temp45°F
Rain28.6 in/yr
Elevation1,052 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+16.0%
High School+92.4%
Graduate+3.3%
School Score5.6/10
Community
2024 VoteR 69% / D 29%
Commute28 min
Broadband86.2%
Internet Speed46 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries3
Did You Know?
Wood Lake was founded in 1891.
The median home in Wood Lake was built in 1943.
The nearest airport is Southwest Minnesota Regional Marshall/Ryan Field (20 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.422 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
13.8% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 3 fatal vehicle crashes.