County profile · Minnesota
Wadena County, MN market data
How Wadena County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 14,388
- +1.9% since 2020
- Households
- 6,081
- Median household income
- $61,467
- +31.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $173,000
- Jobs located here
- 5,599
- Highest market score
- 64
- Sit-down restaurants, #569 of 2,405 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Wadena County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Wadena County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Wadena County has an estimated 14,388 people and 6,081 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Wadena County grew 1.9%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Wadena County is $61,467, 24% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 31.9%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Wadena County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 121, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (54).
Of the business types scored in Wadena County, sit-down restaurants (64), real estate businesses (61) and dentists and orthodontists (57) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For sit-down restaurants, that ranks #569 of 2,405 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for sit-down restaurants (36% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Wadena County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Wadena County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurants | 64 | #569 of 2,405 | 24 | 39.5 | $863K | 130 | 7 |
| Real estate | 61 | #533 of 2,229 | 8 | 13.2 | Index only | 224 | 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 57 | #689 of 1,886 | 6 | 9.9 | $1.3M | 130 | 4 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 55 | #984 of 2,394 | 48 | 78.9 | $160K | 105 | 7 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 53 | #875 of 2,176 | 8 | 13.2 | Index only | 178 | 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 53 | #896 of 2,088 | 6 | 9.9 | $698K | 105 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 53 | #986 of 2,385 | 20 | 32.9 | $267K | 126 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 49 | #1,163 of 2,222 | 6 | 9.9 | $3.5M | 113 | 13 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 49 | #1,233 of 2,405 | 54 | 88.8 | $383K | 103 | 23 |
| Spas and skin care | 47 | #990 of 1,769 | 5 | 8.2 | $1.1M | 122 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 46 | #1,267 of 2,261 | 6 | 9.9 | $5.7M | 72 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 46 | #1,388 of 2,378 | 16 | 26.3 | $440K | 99 | 11 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 44 | #1,247 of 2,063 | 6 | 9.9 | $3.5M | 93 | 3 |
| Gas stations | 44 | #1,447 of 2,358 | 14 | 23.0 | $1.3M | 55 | 7 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 40 | #1,304 of 1,889 | 6 | 9.9 | $3.5M | 83 | 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 40 | #1,677 of 2,401 | 32 | 52.6 | $220K | 82 | 12 |
| Hair salons | 39 | #1,694 of 2,339 | 14 | 23.0 | $382K | 89 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 38 | #1,592 of 2,210 | 13 | 21.4 | $815K | 93 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 37 | #1,505 of 2,087 | 10 | 16.4 | $1.1M | 83 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | 36 | #1,123 of 1,490 | 5 | 8.2 | $1.5M | 64 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 34 | #1,681 of 2,272 | 10 | 16.4 | $1.1M | 89 | 7 |
| Pet businesses | 24 | #2,037 of 2,200 | 10 | 16.4 | $441K | 50 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 24 | #2,135 of 2,402 | 22 | 36.2 | $1.6M | 46 | 6 |
| Grocery stores | 23 | #1,820 of 2,070 | 7 | 11.5 | $4.9M | 53 | 5 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 18 | #1,387 of 1,461 | 5 | 8.2 | $883K | 35 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 16 | #1,543 of 1,611 | 6 | 9.9 | $317K | 32 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 16 | #2,031 of 2,057 | 10 | 16.4 | $1.5M | 60 | 19 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 13 | #1,694 of 1,707 | 7 | 11.5 | $2.1M | 44 | 10 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.6 | $254K | 37 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.6 | $1M | 52 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.6 | $1.8M | 70 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.9 | $2.3M | 76 | 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.9 | $2.6M | 81 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.3 | $7.3M | Too few | 9 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.3 | $2.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.3 | $3.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.3 | $3.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.3 | $3.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pizza | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.3 | $10.4M | Too few | 13 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.3 | $3.8M | Too few | 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $10.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $5.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $14.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Wadena County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $7M | $1,157 | 121 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $18.3M | $3,010 | 116 |
| Food away from home | $20.7M | $3,404 | 84 |
| Groceries | $34.2M | $5,617 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $5.3M | $879 | 87 |
| Child care and other personal services | $1.9M | $313 | 54 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $4.2M | $688 | 70 |
| Medical and dental services | $7.7M | $1,259 | 98 |
| Pets | $4.4M | $726 | 80 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $10.6M | $1,741 | 85 |
| Vehicle insurance | $11.2M | $1,836 | 94 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $14.5M | $2,393 | 79 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $6.7M | $1,099 | 78 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $77.5M | $12,744 | 76 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Wadena County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 14,388+1.9% since 2020
- Households
- 6,081
- Median age
- 41.2
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 74%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 536 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 27
- Median household income
- $61,467+31.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $77,288
- Median home value
- $173,000
- Jobs located here
- 5,599
- Daytime population
- 13,890Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Wadena County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Wadena County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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- Cass County, MN30,992 people
- Otter Tail County, MN60,475 people
- Hubbard County, MN21,831 people
- Becker County, MN35,343 people
- Crow Wing County, MN67,686 people
- Douglas County, MN39,575 people
- Morrison County, MN34,249 people
Questions
How fast is Wadena County, MN growing?
Population estimates put Wadena County at 14,388 people in 2025, up 1.9% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 6,081 households. Median household income rose 31.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Wadena County, MN spend?
Households in Wadena County spend about $77.5M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $34.2M on groceries and $20.7M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Wadena County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 121, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (54).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Wadena County, MN?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Wadena County are for sit-down restaurants (64), real estate businesses (61) and dentists and orthodontists (57). Wadena County ranks #569 of 2,405 scored counties for sit-down restaurants.
How does Wadena County, MN compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Wadena County is $61,467 a year, 24% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $173,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Wadena County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for sit-down restaurants (36% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 28 of the 56 business types have a score in Wadena County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Wadena County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Wadena County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Wadena County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.