The Town Files

Wadena County, Minnesota

14,256 people. The median home is worth $173,000 (typical Minnesota town: $301,800) and the median household earns $61,467.

Towns in Wadena County

Towns in Wadena County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Wadena4,325$160,800$56,08039.2

People and housing

Wadena CountyTypical Minnesota town
Median home value$173,000$301,800
Median rent$746$991
Median household income$61,467$87,375
Median age40.042.7
Bachelor's degree or higher19.8%26.2%
Below the poverty line12.5%6.9%

Jobs and pay

5,650 jobs in 2024, average pay $50,358 a year.

Largest industries in Wadena CountyRetail614 jobs · $33,823Wholesale trade537 jobs · $54,279Manufacturing447 jobs · $56,973Hotels & restaurants343 jobs · $17,596Construction257 jobs · $66,609Other services183 jobs · $31,543
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Wadena County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 4.7%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 492 storm events in Wadena County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Wadena County by type since 1996Hail152Drought31Tornado15Blizzard7High Wind11Heavy Snow37Flash Flood10Funnel Cloud10Winter Storm50Cold/Wind Chill17
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Wadena County has been included in 15 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
August 9, 2022Severe StormDR-4666: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
July 8, 2022Severe StormDR-4658: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
April 7, 2020BiologicalDR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3453: Covid-19
July 21, 2014FloodDR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
July 2, 2010TornadoDR-1921: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).