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Wadena County, MN

7 cities and towns and 5 ZIP codes in Wadena County, Minnesota.

Population

14,256

Land area

536sq mi

People per sq mi

27

ZIP codes

5

Cities and towns in Wadena County

Full map

Wadena County at a glance

  • Wadena County is 63% less dense than Minnesota as a whole.
  • The median household income is $61,467, 31% below the Minnesota median of $89,062.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $173,000 (47% below Minnesota) and median rent is $746 a month.
  • Its largest cities are Wadena (4,419), Staples (2,269) and Menahga (1,343).

Local data for Wadena County, MN

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Wadena County, MN, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$61,467

Poverty rate

12.5%

Median home value

$173,000

Prices +1.5% in a year

Median rent

$746/mo

Homeownership

73.6%

Bachelor's or higher

19.8%

Median age

40.0

Average commute

21.3 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (4,667), Norwegian Americans (1,822), Irish Americans (993).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans

Details

Unemployment rate

4.9%

Sep 2026, +1.4 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$52,367

5,398 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$52,596

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$106M

FY 2026, $7,554 per person

PPP loans

$44.7M

1,129 loans, 5,177 jobs reported

Campaign donations

$41.5K

Itemized, 2026 cycle

EconomyFederal spendingPPP loans

How people get to work

Wadena County, MN, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone77.7%
  • Carpooled9.2%
  • Public transit0.7%
  • Walked1.6%
  • Bicycle1.9%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.5%
  • Worked from home8.4%

Average one-way commute: 21.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Wadena County, MN, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Very Low

Top: wildfire

Storm events since 1996

492

Most often hail

Flood insurance policies

13

0.2% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

78° / -1°F

29.3 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone3 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in Wadena County, MN, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

38.4%

U.S. 33.3% +5.1 pts

Diabetes

12.7%

U.S. 12.1% +0.6 pts

Smoking

17.2%

U.S. 12.8% +4.4 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

8.8%

U.S. 11.1% -2.3 pts

Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Wadena County

Population shown

·

Frequently asked questions

What is the largest city in Wadena County, MN?
Wadena is the largest city or town in Wadena County, with about 4,419 residents.
How many ZIP codes are in Wadena County?
Wadena County includes 5 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 56464, 56477, 56479, 56481, 56482.
What is the population of Wadena County, MN?
About 14,256 people live in Wadena County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What counties border Wadena County?
Wadena County borders Otter Tail County, Becker County, Cass County, Todd County, Hubbard County.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023

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