Wadena: Demographics & People
Census counts 4,419 people in Wadena, in 2,042 households. Population grew 1.3% from 4,361 (2022) to 4,419 (2024). Median age 39.2 years. (0.8y younger than Wadena County; 1.7y older than Minnesota). Children under 18 are 27% of the population. Population is 78% White (non-Hispanic) and 4% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.08). 56% of households are family-led. County is losing 94 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 38% adult obesity, 20% smoke.
- 2.2 people per household (vs Minnesota avg 2.5).
- 44% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Minnesota 39%).
- 82 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Minnesota 67).
Population & Trend
Population grew 1.3% from 4,361 (2022) to 4,419 (2024) — about 2.2× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~4,477 (extrapolated at 0.7%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 4,557.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 60,081 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 1.3% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 4,361 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 4,419 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 4,419 people (vs Minnesota 32,889) |
| Population Estimate | 4,557 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 39.2y is 0.3 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 27% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 39.2 years (vs Minnesota 37.5y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 27.0% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 4,419 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 1,191 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 780.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 1,645.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 803 |
| Population under 18 | 1,191 |
| Median age | 39.2 years (vs Minnesota 37.5y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 4,419 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.08 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 3,948 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 5 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 171 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 8.2% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 95.7% |
| Black population | 1.8% (vs Minnesota 6.1%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 4.5% (vs Minnesota 6.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 77.9% (vs Minnesota 73.6%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 3,441 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 924 |
| Share born in this state | 77.9% |
| Share born in another state | 22.1% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 20.9% |
| Naturalized citizens | 1.2% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 174 |
Households & Family Composition
2,042 households. Averaging 2.1 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 56% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 1,210 families, 19% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 1,054 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 1,210 |
| Married couples with children | 233 |
| Single-parent households | 126 |
| Average household size | 2.09 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 15.7% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 56 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 26 |
| Family households | 1,138 households (vs Minnesota 8,466) |
| Households that are families | 55.7% (vs Minnesota 61.2%) |
| Total households | 2,042 households (vs Minnesota 11,928) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 9.8% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 94 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 9.8% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 58,708 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 58,802 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -94 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 352 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 8.4% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 149 residents live in group quarters (3.4% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 149 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 8 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 27111 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 27 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 111 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Otter Tail |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 13.4% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 11.00 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 16.30 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 27111 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Otter Tail County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 2,229 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 27111 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Otter Tail County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 58.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 53.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 67.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 58,746 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 5.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 8 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 27.0% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 4,419, growing, family-oriented, middle-class, blue collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 4,419 people (vs Minnesota 32,889) |
| Town Summary · County | Otter Tail County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade