The Town FilesWaconia, Minnesota
City in Carver County · population 13,033 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $431,000
- Household income
- $111,031
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 38.4
Waconia is a city of 13,033 people in Carver County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $431,000, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more upscale than 93% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 87% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 84% of Minnesota towns.
How Waconia ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Waconia is worth $431,000, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $111,031, which is more affordable than 26% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,330 a month. 80.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waconia | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $431,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,330 | $991 |
| Median household income | $111,031 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 80.3% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Waconia
| People | Waconia | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.9% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.1% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 20.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 90.2% |
Weather in Waconia
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 3.9°F. About 34.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waconia since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 6, 1965 about 2.4 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 275 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 28, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 77 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on June 16, 2025.
Severe weather in Carver County since 1996
Carver County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2024 | Flood | DR-4797: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Carver County
Carver County had 40,848 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,445 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Waconia itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Waconia
9 public schools with 4,000 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waconia High School | 9-12 | 1,342 | 18.6 |
| Waconia Middle School | 6-8 | 953 | 17.3 |
| SOUTHVIEW ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 538 | 15.4 |
| BAYVIEW ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 535 | 14.1 |
| Laketown Elementary | K-5 | 523 | 15.4 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION | PK-PK | 66 | 16.5 |
| Waconia Learning Center | 9-12 | 34 | 8.5 |
| TRANSITIONS 110 | 12-12 | 9 | 9.0 |
| Waconia Learning Center SS/AS | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Waconia
- Victoria, MN6.2 mi · 10,546 people · home $581,200
- Minnetrista, MN7.7 mi · 8,262 people · home $658,300
- Norwood Young America, MN7.9 mi · 3,863 people · home $299,300
- Watertown, MN8.6 mi · 4,659 people · home $337,200
- Mound, MN9.0 mi · 9,398 people · home $370,800
- Chaska, MN9.0 mi · 27,810 people · home $404,700
- Carver, MN9.5 mi · 5,829 people · home $445,800
- Shorewood, MN10.4 mi · 7,783 people · home $703,200
Waconia questions
Is Waconia, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waconia scores better for retirees than 51% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 12%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.4).
How much does a house cost in Waconia?
The median owner-occupied home in Waconia is valued at $431,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $111,031, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,330 a month.
What is the weather like in Waconia?
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 3.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.1 inches of precipitation a year and 51.6 inches of snow.
Does Waconia get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waconia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 6, 1965. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)