City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Wahpeton, IA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Wahpeton - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

436
Residents
$86,667
Median income
$463,300
Median home
$1,091
Median rent (state)

Wahpeton - the verdict

Nationally, Wahpeton sits in the 68th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

68th
percentile, household income
83rd
percentile, home value
28th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Wahpeton, IA

Iowa's Wahpeton is a small town, with 436 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $86,667 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.0%. Home values in Wahpeton run a median of $463,300, and the median resident age is 55.0 years. 57.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 51.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 5 residential building permits were authorized in Wahpeton (Construction Slowdown), down 67% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Living costs in Iowa run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Iowa at 87.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,091 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Iowa's average monthly utility costs around $212 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 36.3 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

436 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$86,667 /yr

Poverty 2.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Wahpeton compare to other US cities?

Here's how Wahpeton stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 68% higher than other cities
Home value 83% pricier than other cities
Median rent 28% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Wahpeton against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Iowa only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Iowa-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Wahpeton's strongest outlier among Iowa cities

Among the 849 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Wahpeton ranks #7 - the 99th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Wahpeton only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#117 of 845
86th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#145 of 858
82nd percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#7 of 849
99th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#685 of 858
19th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#15 of 858
98th percentile in Iowa

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Iowa only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

68thIncome percentile

68th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Wahpeton's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$463,300 17th percentile more affordable than 17% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Wahpeton $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Wahpeton, IA Wahpeton, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Wahpeton, IA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Wahpeton, IA median $86,667/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Wahpeton, IA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Wahpeton, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 57.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
436
Median Income
$86,667
Median Home Value
$463,300
Median Age
55.0
Poverty Rate
2.0%
Labor force participation
51.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
57.7%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
330 residents335 residents340 residents345 residents350 residents 202020212022202320242025 347 residents 333 residents ▼ -4.0%
Wahpeton's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
5
housing units authorized
Single-Family
5
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
11.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 15
2020 8
2021 9
2022 10
2023 5
2024 5

Permit volume decreased 67% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
58.2%
Carpool
11.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
10.9%
Work from Home
16.8%
Other
2.7%

Based on 184 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Iowa - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$75
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$212
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Iowa state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Iowa state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Wahpeton sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,091/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
36.3 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Breda
436 people
McCallsburg
435 people
Silver City
435 people
Grandview
438 people
Scranton
434 people
Conesville
440 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Wahpeton's 436 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

York, AZ
436 people
Stirling, CA
436 people
Center, IN
436 people
Wellington, KY
436 people
Accident, MD
436 people
Lewistown, MO
436 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Wahpeton's $86,667 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bellefonte, DE
$86,667 median income
Dayton, ID
$86,667 median income
Bonfield, IL
$86,667 median income
Retreat, TX
$86,667 median income
Anderson Creek, NC
$86,661 median income
Hampton, IL
$86,679 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Wahpeton, IA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Wahpeton, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.3% White 95.2% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.2% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 4.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Wahpeton compares to nearby Iowa cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Wahpeton (this city) 436 $86,667
Breda 436 $59,469
McCallsburg 435 $72,898
Silver City 435 $68,214
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Wahpeton, IA?

What is the population of Wahpeton, IA? +

436 people live in Wahpeton, IA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Wahpeton, IA? +

The median household income in Wahpeton is $86,667 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Wahpeton? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Wahpeton; the closest available measure is the Iowa state average, a cost of living index of 87.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Iowa vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Wahpeton, IA? +

Wahpeton's median home value sits at $463,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.