1st Advantage MortgageIn Waseca County, Minnesota, the typical household earns $76,261 a year and the typical rent is $883. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Minnesota before sharing details.
On this page
- A quick profile of Waseca County
- Housing costs in Waseca County
- What Waseca County households earn
- How Waseca County residents earn a living
- The counties around Waseca County
- Places inside Waseca County
- A Waseca County household budget, worked through
- Who lives in Waseca County, in numbers
- Reading the Waseca County data as a borrower
- A Waseca County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Waseca County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Waseca County
With an estimated 18,885 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Waseca County ranks 50th of 87 in Minnesota for population. It covers 423 square miles of land, or about 45 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 4 Census places inside Waseca County, Waseca leads by population with about 9,164; 4 of the 4 are incorporated.
Housing costs in Waseca County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $883 in Waseca County versus $1,280 statewide. 38% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 17% spend half or more. Home values center on $220,800, or 2.9 years of median income. The ownership rate is 81%. The median home was built in 1970, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Waseca County | Minnesota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $883/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $220,800 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.5% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 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).
What Waseca County households earn
Half of Waseca County households take in less than $76,261 a year and half take in more, 14% below the Minnesota median of $89,062. In the state ranking that is 32nd of 87.
| Household income | Waseca County | vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.8% | +3.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.4% | +5.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.9% | +0.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -8.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 36% of Waseca County households make $100,000 or more, and 21% make less than $35,000. Census counts 7.5% of Waseca County residents in poverty, against 9.3% across Minnesota. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Waseca County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Waseca County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by manufacturing (16%). Compared with Minnesota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (6% against 2%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.5% in Waseca County. 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. 4.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Waseca County | Compared with Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.5% | -2.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.2% | +2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | +0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.1% | +0.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.2% | -1.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
The counties around Waseca County
Steele County is closest, 18 miles from center to center; the sixth, Faribault County, is 30 miles off. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Waseca County; Le Sueur County is highest at $94,968 and Faribault County lowest at $66,815.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waseca County | - | $76,261 | $883/mo | 81% |
| Steele County, MN | 18 mi | $84,196 | $1,061/mo | 79% |
| Blue Earth County, MN | 24 mi | $74,477 | $1,123/mo | 61% |
| Le Sueur County, MN | 25 mi | $94,968 | $942/mo | 81% |
| Freeborn County, MN | 27 mi | $71,023 | $849/mo | 80% |
| Rice County, MN | 27 mi | $83,181 | $1,083/mo | 76% |
| Faribault County, MN | 30 mi | $66,815 | $799/mo | 79% |
Places inside Waseca County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Waseca County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 12,897 residents, leaving about 32% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Janesville has the highest median household income on the list ($74,643) and Waseca the lowest ($64,074), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in New Richland ($585) and steepest in Waseca ($903). No Waseca County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waseca | city | 9,164 | $64,074 | $903 | 6 mi |
| Janesville | city | 2,378 | $74,643 | $873 | 9 mi |
| New Richland | city | 1,184 | $67,000 | $585 | 10 mi |
| Waldorf | city | 171 | $48,000 | n/a | 8 mi |
A Waseca County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Waseca County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $76,261 a year is $6,355 of gross monthly income
- 14% goes to median rent ($883)
- Under a 40% cap, $2,542 total minus rent leaves $1,659
If your rent is above $883, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who lives in Waseca County, in numbers
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. 3.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Waseca County | Minnesota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.0% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.5% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.6% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.9% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.5% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.5% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.7% |
| 60+ min | 5.7% |
Reading the Waseca County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Waseca County borrowers.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Waseca County borrower sees (free reports).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
A Waseca County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Waseca County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Minnesota license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Who licenses lenders for Waseca County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Waseca County resident can confirm its license with the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Minnesota state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Waseca County a high-income county?
Its $76,261 median ranks 32nd of 87 Minnesota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Waseca County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $883 a month; 38% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Waseca County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Waseca, Janesville, New Richland, Waldorf.
Does living in Waseca County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Waseca County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Waseca County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Minnesota it is the Minnesota Department of Commerce.