The Town FilesWadena, Minnesota
City in Wadena County · population 4,325 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $160,800
- Household income
- $56,080
- Jan low / Jul high
- -1° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 51 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 39.2
Wadena is a city of 4,325 people in Wadena County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $160,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more walkable than 83% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 81% of Minnesota towns, hipper than 81% of Minnesota towns.
How Wadena 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 Wadena is worth $160,800, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $56,080, which is more affordable than 74% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $684 a month. 58.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wadena | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $160,800 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $684 | $991 |
| Median household income | $56,080 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 58.1% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wadena
| People | Wadena | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.6% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.7% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 15.1 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.4% | 90.2% |
Weather in Wadena
July highs average 78.0°F and January lows -1.5°F. About 29.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.8 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 184 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wadena since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on June 17, 2010 about 8.4 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 38 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 12, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 71 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on August 3, 2024.
Severe weather in Wadena County since 1996
Wadena County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 9, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4666: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 8, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4658: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, 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 |
Jobs and pay in Wadena County
Wadena County had 5,650 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,358 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Wadena itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Wadena
8 public schools with 1,292 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WADENA-DEER CREEK SENIOR HIGH | 7-12 | 480 | 22.9 |
| WADENA-DEER CREEK ELEMENTARY | PK-4 | 464 | 12.2 |
| WADENA-DEER CREEK 5TH AND 6TH GRADE | 5-6 | 168 | 28.0 |
| Freshwater Education District ALC | 6-12 | 82 | 7.5 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION | PK-PK | 60 | 10.0 |
| LEAF RIVER ACADEMY | K-12 | 19 | 4.8 |
| White Pine Academy | 5-12 | 12 | 12.0 |
| Elm Tree Academy | 2-12 | 7 | 7.0 |
Towns near Wadena
- Staples, MN15.7 mi · 2,989 people · home $130,000
- Perham, MN23.9 mi · 3,512 people · home $199,000
Wadena questions
Is Wadena, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wadena scores better for retirees than 19% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 6%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.2).
How much does a house cost in Wadena?
The median owner-occupied home in Wadena is valued at $160,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,080, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $684 a month.
What is the weather like in Wadena?
July highs average 78.0°F and January lows -1.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.3 inches of precipitation a year and 50.8 inches of snow.
Does Wadena get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wadena since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on June 17, 2010. 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)