Wadena, MN: Local News, Events & Neighbors

Wadena ( wə-DEEN-ə) is a city in Otter Tail and Wadena counties in the state of Minnesota. It is about one hundred sixty miles northwest of the Minneapolis – Saint Paul metro area. The population was 4,325 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Wadena County. Wadena is an agricultural community and serves as a region hub for the Tri county area. Wadena is located at the crossroads of Highway 10 and Highway 71.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Wadena ranks

All →

#8Cheapest rent in MN #12Lowest property tax in MN #20Most affordable in MN All MN rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code56482

Area code218

Living in Wadena

Housing in Wadena

$213K▲ 3.8% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Wadena home is worth about $213,000, up 3.8% in a year, 39% below the Minnesota typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Wadena

C⁺

Safety Grade C+

Wadena reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 61% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Wadena 3.2

Minnesota 2.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Wadena 11.9

Minnesota 14.3

U.S. 15.5

Natural hazards: Very lowMostly inland flooding · higher than 12% of U.S. communitiesDetails →

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Health in Wadena

C

Health Grade C

Healthier than 26% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 47% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Minnesota

1better than MN·18worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 13 are too close to call.

Conditions 8▼ 4 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 1▲ 2▼ 4 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 3▼ 1 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

79.9%More adults treating high blood pressureMN 76.1% · better 8.8%More adults with COPDMN 5.4% · worse

Care nearby

Astera HealthWadena · 1.4 mi · ER · rural critical access

Community Health Service Inc. MoorheadMoorhead · 82.2 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Wadena · CMS · HRSAHealth in Wadena →

Schools in Wadena

All Wadena schools →

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School Grade C+

The public schools Wadena’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 58% of Minnesota’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Wadena’s schools compare in MN →

DistrictWADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICTSchools9

Wadena-Deer Creek Elementary CElementary · Grades PK–4 · 450 students Wadena-Deer Creek 5Th and 6Th Grade C+Middle · Grades 5–6 · 159 students Wadena-Deer Creek Senior High C+High · Grades 7–12 · 470 students Freshwater Education District ALC C-High · Grades 6–12 · 101 students White Pine AcademyHigh · Grades 5–12 · 11 students Early Childhood Special EducationPrekindergarten · Grades PK · 64 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MN. Ratings are from neighbors.