1st Advantage MortgageThe median Wabasha County household earns $82,007, and 7% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Wabasha County
- The Wabasha County job picture
- Household income in Wabasha County
- Housing costs in Wabasha County
- Places inside Wabasha County
- Counties near Wabasha County
- Wabasha County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Wabasha County borrowers
- A Wabasha County household budget, worked through
- Before you sign
- Minnesota rules that apply in Wabasha County
- More guides for Wabasha County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Wabasha County
Roughly 21,565 residents live in Wabasha County, Minnesota, 46th by population among the state's 87 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 523 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 41 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Rochester, MN metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (9 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Lake City, with about 5,034 residents, or 23% of the county.
The Wabasha County job picture
The biggest employer of Wabasha County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 31% of workers, followed by manufacturing (13%). Compared with Minnesota, the county leans toward education and health care (31% against 26%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.2% in Wabasha County. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Wabasha County | Gap to Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 31.2% | +5.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.5% | -0.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.9% | -0.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.3% | +1.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.5% | -4.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.3% | -0.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Household income in Wabasha County
The median household income in Wabasha County is $82,007; statewide it is $89,062, so Wabasha County runs 8% below Minnesota as a whole.
| Income band | Share in Wabasha County | Difference from Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.0% | +0.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.7% | +3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.9% | +0.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.3% | -4.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 40% of Wabasha County households make $100,000 or more, and 18% make less than $35,000. 7.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.3%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.417 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Housing costs in Wabasha County
A typical Wabasha County rental runs $830 a month including utilities, which is 35% below Minnesota. By the Census definition, 38% of Wabasha County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $264,400, about 3.2 times the median household income. Owners occupy 83% of homes.
| Home costs | Wabasha County | Minnesota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $830/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $264,400 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.0% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 9% | n/a |
Because most Wabasha County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Places inside Wabasha County
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 66% of Wabasha County residents live in one of the 9. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $64,514 in Wabasha to $92,083 in Elgin. This guide covers each of the 9 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake City | city | 5,034 | $72,244 | $871 | 11 mi |
| Plainview | city | 3,500 | $82,926 | $828 | 9 mi |
| Wabasha | city | 2,587 | $64,514 | $757 | 11 mi |
| Elgin | city | 1,116 | $92,083 | $727 | 11 mi |
| Mazeppa | city | 1,004 | $92,061 | $943 | 15 mi |
| Kellogg | city | 513 | $69,792 | $856 | 12 mi |
| Millville | city | 247 | $94,063 | $775 | 4 mi |
| Zumbro Falls | city | 157 | $93,542 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Hammond | city | 134 | $58,438 | $863 | 8 mi |
Counties near Wabasha County
Six nearby counties, 22 to 32 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Wabasha County; Olmsted County is highest at $95,406 and Buffalo County lowest at $70,479. Some neighbors are in Wisconsin. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Wabasha County resident follows Minnesota rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wabasha County | - | $82,007 | $830/mo | 83% |
| Olmsted County, MN | 22 mi | $95,406 | $1,370/mo | 71% |
| Buffalo County, WI | 24 mi | $70,479 | $876/mo | 78% |
| Goodhue County, MN | 25 mi | $84,171 | $966/mo | 79% |
| Pepin County, WI | 31 mi | $75,256 | $869/mo | 83% |
| Winona County, MN | 31 mi | $70,744 | $907/mo | 69% |
| Pierce County, WI | 32 mi | $92,109 | $1,044/mo | 75% |
Wabasha County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 27% of the adult population. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Wabasha County | Minnesota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.2 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.5% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.9% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.8% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.1% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.2% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Wabasha County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 27.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.6% |
| 60+ min | 5.4% |
What the numbers mean for Wabasha County borrowers
What the Wabasha County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Retirees. At a median age of 45.2, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Consolidation math. With 40% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Wabasha County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
A Wabasha County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Wabasha County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $6,834 gross per month ($82,007 / 12)
- Less median rent of $830, which is 12% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,630 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Wabasha County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Minnesota borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Minnesota rules that apply in Wabasha County
The Minnesota Department of Commerce is the place to verify any lender's Minnesota license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Minnesota guide.
More guides for Wabasha County
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Wabasha County household make?
About $82,007 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 8% below the Minnesota median.
Is Wabasha County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $830 against $1,280 statewide, and 38% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Wabasha County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 83% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Wabasha County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Lake City, Plainview, Wabasha, Elgin, Mazeppa.
Are Wabasha County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.