County · Minnesota

Wabasha County, Minnesota

Wabasha County, Minnesota. Wabasha County had 21,537 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.8% since 2020, slower than Minnesota (+2.2%). It holds 28 places (11 cities, villages and boroughs and 17 towns and townships) and 6 census tracts. GEOID 27157.

Wabasha County is one of the 4 counties of the Rochester, MN metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

21,537

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 21,387 · ACS 2020-2024: 21,565

Median household income

$82,007

±$3,223 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062

Median home value

$264,400

±$8,354 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300

Median gross rent

$830

±$52 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280

How many people live in Wabasha County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 21,387 residents in Wabasha County. The Census Bureau estimates 21,537 for July 1, 2025, up 0.8% since 2020, slower than Minnesota (+2.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 21,565 over 523 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +114 (21,508)
2021→2022 +142 (21,650)
2022→2023 +14 (21,664)
2023→2024 −110 (21,554)
2024→2025 −17 (21,537)

Wabasha County in Minnesota. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Wabasha County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	21,565	5,739,445	+28
Households	9,156±200	2,307,955	no clear change
Average household size	2.32±0.05	2.43	no clear change
Housing units	10,291±61	2,545,030	no clear change

Wabasha County's population since 2000

From 21,610 in 2000 to 21,537 in 2025: down 0.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 21,610
2005 (estimate) 21,706
2010 Census 21,676
2015 (estimate) 21,392
2020 Census 21,387
2025 (estimate) 21,537

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Wabasha County?

Wabasha County holds 28 places: 11 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 17 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government). The largest is Lake City with 5,306 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Wabasha County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Lake City	city	5,252	5,034±98	$72,244	$238,700	5.9%	83%
Plainview	city	3,483	3,500±15	$82,926	$245,300	5.9%	100%
Wabasha	city	2,559	2,587±14	$64,514	$262,300	10.2%	100%
Greenfield Township	township	1,308	1,222±122	$91,094	$261,500	4.6%	100%
Elgin	city	1,115	1,116±193	$92,083	$232,200	7.6%	100%
Mazeppa	city	874	1,004±123	$92,061	$242,900	10.8%	100%
Elgin Township	township	676	724±98	$113,304	$362,900	3.7%	100%
Mazeppa Township	township	646	658±78	$95,750	$400,000	1.7%	100%
Zumbro Township	township	642	534±72	$78,750	$446,700	11.7%	100%
Gillford Township	township	507	558±115	$86,250	$258,900	2.5%	100%
Plainview Township	township	456	354±65	$97,857	$393,800	3.1%	100%
Mount Pleasant Township	township	447	493±101	$105,179	$393,600	1.4%	100%
Highland Township	township	446	325±60	$102,500	$344,100	8.0%	100%
Lake Township, Wabasha County	township	431	442±69	$96,750	$372,100	3.8%	100%
Kellogg	city	415	513±99	$69,792	$172,800	6.2%	100%
Chester Township, Wabasha County	township	415	367±69	$131,029	$353,600	4.4%	100%
Oakwood Township	township	382	405±78	$75,625	$288,500	8.1%	100%
West Albany Township	township	381	330±65	$90,192	$384,200	19.4%	100%
Pepin Township	township	366	380±75	$68,750	$303,400	17.6%	100%
Glasgow Township	township	266	227±64	$112,188	$335,200	0.4%	100%
Hyde Park Township	township	259	309±66	$92,500	$389,500	24.6%	100%
Watopa Township	township	246	273±64	$92,250	$388,200	13.2%	100%
Minneiska Township	township	182	184±47	$110,208	$323,300	12.5%	100%
Zumbro FallsGEOID 2772310	city	155	157±35	$93,542	$263,300	2.5%	100%
MillvilleGEOID 2742290	city	151	247±73	$94,063	$159,400	3.2%	100%
HammondGEOID 2726828	city	130	134±32	$58,438	$146,900	10.4%	100%
MinneiskaGEOID 2743036	city	97	111±41	$87,083	$207,100	6.3%	53%
Bellechester	city	176	227±59	$64,167	$196,300	8.4%	22%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Wabasha County?

The median resident of Wabasha County is 45.2 years old; 21.8% are under 18 and 23.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.4%. 1.8% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Wabasha County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	45.2±0.4	38.8	no clear change
Under 18 years	21.8%±0.1 pts	22.9%	–
65 years and over	23.3%±0.1 pts	17.3%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3.4%	6.4%	+0.5 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	93.3%±0.2 pts	75.9%	−1.4 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.2 pts	6.9%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.7%±0.1 pts	5.1%	+0.2 pts
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.7%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	1.8%±0.2 pts	4.5%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.1 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	1.8%±0.5 pts	8.7%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	2.7%±0.8 pts	12.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.2%±0.7 pts	5.9%	–
With a disability	11.1%±0.9 pts	11.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	3.8%±0.9 pts	4.7%	−1.4 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	95.1%±0.9 pts	93.9%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	26.5%±1.7 pts	39.4%	+2.8 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	8.9%±1.1 pts	13.8%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	0.8%±0.4 pts	1.8%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Wabasha County earn?

Half of Wabasha County's 9,156 households earn less than $82,007 a year (±$3,223), against $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 it was $80,273 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.1% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Wabasha County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$82,007±$3,223	$89,062	no clear change
Mean household income	$102,189±$3,755	$118,304	–
Per capita income	$43,686±$1,458	$48,237	no clear change
People below the poverty line	7.1%±1.2 pts	9.3%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	5.9%±2.5 pts	10.3%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	5.5%±1.0 pts	7.9%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	85.9%±1.7 pts	91.6%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Wabasha County?

Owners occupy 83.3% of Wabasha County's occupied homes and renters 16.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $264,400 by its owner (±$8,354). The median renter pays $830 a month including utilities, and 28.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Wabasha County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$264,400±$8,354	$329,300	+$38,075
Median gross rent	$830±$52	$1,280	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	28.6%±6.5 pts	38.4%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,763±$53	$1,947	–
Owner-occupied homes	83.3%±1.7 pts	72.2%	+4.7 pts
Housing units	10,291±61	2,545,030	no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.6%	–
Rental vacancy rate	5.2%±3.7 pts	5.3%	–
Single-family detached homes	78.5%±1.9 pts	66.0%	–
Mobile homes	7.0%±1.4 pts	2.9%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.8%±0.6 pts	1.9%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	21.5%±1.5 pts	15.6%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Wabasha County building?

Builders took permits for 51 new housing units across Wabasha County in 2025 (49 single-family), 2.4 per 1,000 residents.

2019 62 units
2020 76 units
2021 75 units
2022 66 units
2023 54 units
2024 64 units
2025 51 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Wabasha County get to work?

74.2% of Wabasha County's workers drive alone and 11.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.2%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Wabasha County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	65.4%±1.2 pts	68.1%	–
Unemployment rate	2.2%±0.7 pts	4.1%	−1.5 pts
Drove alone to work	74.2%±2.3 pts	68.9%	–
Carpooled	8.7%±1.5 pts	7.5%	–
Public transportation	0.0%±0.1 pts	1.8%	–
Walked	4.4%±1.1 pts	2.5%	–
Worked from home	11.4%±1.5 pts	17.6%	+5.3 pts
Mean travel time to work	24.2 min±0.9	22.7 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Wabasha County's census tracts?

Wabasha County is divided into 6 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $64,907 (Tract 4901) to $91,673 (Tract 4904).

Census tracts of Wabasha County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 490127157490100	Wabasha (89%)	2,834	2,807±65	$64,907	$267,600	$752	9.6%
Tract 490227157490200	Kellogg (11%)	3,290	3,095±156	$85,690	$255,100	$950	8.0%
Tract 490327157490300	Lake City (96%)	4,090	4,168±92	$73,718	$232,400	$843	5.4%
Tract 490427157490400	Mazeppa (13%)	4,306	4,438±176	$91,673	$337,700	$928	7.5%
Tract 490527157490500	Elgin (21%)	3,259	3,434±183	$90,848	$308,800	$744	7.2%
Tract 490627157490600	Plainview (88%)	3,608	3,623±53	$83,630	$246,800	$831	5.7%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Wabasha County compare with Minnesota's other counties?

Wabasha County's rank among Minnesota's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	46th of 87
Growth 2020-2025	44th of 87
Residents per square mile	34th of 87
Median household income	17th of 87
Median home value	29th of 87
Median gross rent	60th of 87
Poverty rate	75th of 87
Bachelor's degree or higher	35th of 87
Median age	19th of 87

Every county in Minnesota

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Wabasha County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.