1st Advantage MortgageIn Wadena County, Minnesota, the typical household earns $61,467 a year and the typical rent is $746. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Minnesota license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Wadena County
- What Wadena County households earn
- Renting and owning in Wadena County
- Employment and commuting in Wadena County
- Counties near Wadena County
- Wadena County towns compared
- What a median Wadena County budget can carry
- People and households in Wadena County
- What the numbers mean for Wadena County borrowers
- A Wadena County borrower's checklist
- Minnesota rules that apply in Wadena County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Wadena County
With an estimated 14,256 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Wadena County ranks 58th of 87 in Minnesota for population. Spread over 536 square miles, that works out to roughly 26.6 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Wadena County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 7 Census places inside Wadena County, Wadena leads by population with about 4,419; 7 of the 7 are incorporated.
What Wadena County households earn
Half of Wadena County households take in less than $61,467 a year and half take in more, 31% below the Minnesota median of $89,062. In the state ranking that is 83rd of 87.
| Income band | Share in Wadena County | Difference from Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.7% | +9.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.1% | +7.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.9% | -5.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.3% | -10.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 28% of Wadena County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 12.5%, 3 points higher than the state's 9.3%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.420 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Wadena County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Wadena County
A typical Wadena County rental runs $746 a month including utilities, which is 42% below Minnesota. 37% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. With a median value of $173,000, a typical Wadena County house costs 2.8 times what the median household earns in a year. 74% of Wadena County households own their home and 26% rent. Median construction year: 1974.
| Cost | Wadena County | Minnesota figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $746/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $173,000 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.9% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 9% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Employment and commuting in Wadena County
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 16%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 6% locally and 2% for Minnesota. The survey's unemployment rate for Wadena County averages 5.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.1%). About 78% drive to work alone and 11% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Sector | Wadena County | Compared with Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.6% | -0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.4% | +3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.9% | +0.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +2.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 5.9% | +3.8 pts |
| Other services | 5.5% | +1.2 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Counties near Wadena County
Distances run center to center, from Hubbard County at 35 miles out to Crow Wing County at 44. All of the six report a higher median household income than Wadena County; Crow Wing County is highest at $72,589 and Todd County lowest at $67,662.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wadena County | - | $61,467 | $746/mo | 74% |
| Hubbard County, MN | 35 mi | $71,995 | $905/mo | 83% |
| Todd County, MN | 36 mi | $67,662 | $908/mo | 83% |
| Otter Tail County, MN | 37 mi | $72,255 | $868/mo | 79% |
| Cass County, MN | 40 mi | $68,874 | $863/mo | 86% |
| Becker County, MN | 43 mi | $71,388 | $920/mo | 77% |
| Crow Wing County, MN | 44 mi | $72,589 | $971/mo | 77% |
Wadena County towns compared
7 Census places fall mainly inside Wadena County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 9,363 residents, leaving about 34% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $39,000 in Sebeka to $58,036 in Menahga. None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wadena | city | 4,419 | $56,080 | $684 | 12 mi |
| Staples | city | 2,269 | $52,071 | $844 | 17 mi |
| Menahga | city | 1,343 | $58,036 | $734 | 13 mi |
| Sebeka | city | 725 | $39,000 | $688 | 6 mi |
| Verndale | city | 452 | $49,063 | $708 | 13 mi |
| Nimrod | city | 118 | $117,500 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Aldrich | city | 37 | $37,500 | n/a | 15 mi |
What a median Wadena County budget can carry
Wadena County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Wadena County: $5,122
- 15% goes to median rent ($746)
- $1,047: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,559 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Wadena County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
People and households in Wadena County
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 5.5%, against 4.7% for Minnesota.
| Indicator | Wadena County | All of Minnesota | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.8% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.4% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.5% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.6% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.5% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.5% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Wadena County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 47.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.4% |
| 60+ min | 5.1% |
What the numbers mean for Wadena County borrowers
A few patterns in the Wadena County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Consolidating cards in Wadena County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
A Wadena County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Wadena County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Minnesota rules that apply in Wadena County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Wadena County, check the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Minnesota state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Wadena County household make?
About $61,467 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 31% below the Minnesota median.
How much is rent in Wadena County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $746 a month; 37% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Wadena County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 74% of Wadena County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Wadena County?
By population: Wadena, Staples, Menahga, Sebeka, Verndale. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Are Wadena 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.