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Living in
Waconia.
About
Life in Waconia
Waconia is a community of 13,223 people in Minnesota. The median household income is $111,031, median rent runs about $1,330 per month, and median home values are around $431,000. Unemployment is low at 3.4%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Waconia at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Foreign-Born
2.8%
Broadband Internet
93.4%
of households
Population Growth
+8.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Waconia: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Waconia, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (27.5%), and 2.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.5%
of residents
65 and Older
14.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
38.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
22.3%
of households
Married Couples
60.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.57
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for MN
Rent, home values, and income in Waconia
In Waconia, home values are 31% above the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
12.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,392
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
80.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2001
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $464,369 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below MN average
Unemployment in Waconia and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Carver County, which includes Waconia, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the MN average.
Unemployment rate
Waconia: Carver County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Carver County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Waconia Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area
Commute25.2 min avg
How Waconia residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Waconia, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 61% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 28 mi
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Major hub17.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 85% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Carver County Sheriff's Office, which covers Waconia, runs 85% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
49.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
383.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Carver County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 18 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
59.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Carver County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Carver County, which includes Waconia, the most common type is winter storm, with 18 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 13 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 15 | Winter Storm | $45,500 |
| 2021 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $23,000 |
| 2020 | 12 | Winter Storm | $550,000 |
| 2019 | 13 | Winter Storm | $30,000 |
| 2018 | 9 | Winter Storm | $25,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Carver County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Scott County, MN (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 18 miles from Waconia) is typically good — 266 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
266
per year
Moderate Days
91
per year
Unhealthy Days
4
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Scott County, MN (18 mi away)
Climate80°F summers, 8°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Waconia has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 8°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/32°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
58°/37°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
26°/8°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
33.2"
Annual Snowfall
51.6"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
161
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
116
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23°F | 4°F | 0.85" |
| Feb | 27°F | 7°F | 0.90" |
| Mar | 40°F | 19°F | 1.66" |
| Apr | 56°F | 33°F | 3.24" |
| May | 68°F | 44°F | 4.41" |
| Jun | 78°F | 56°F | 5.28" |
| Jul | 83°F | 60°F | 4.10" |
| Aug | 80°F | 58°F | 4.58" |
| Sep | 73°F | 50°F | 3.26" |
| Oct | 58°F | 36°F | 2.84" |
| Nov | 41°F | 24°F | 1.65" |
| Dec | 28°F | 12°F | 1.32" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Waconia
Waconia has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
2.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Ridgeview Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
St Francis Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.9 mi away · Shakopee
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Waconia
Waconia's student/teacher ratio is 16.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 48.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
48.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 35 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Waconia
Waconia has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (35 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
35 mi awaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
91 mi awayPublic Libraries in Waconia
Waconia Public Library
217 S. Vine Street, Waconia
Cities Near Waconia
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Waconia?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Waconia FAQ
Is Waconia, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Waconia's median rent is $1,330/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $111,031/year. Median home value is $431,000.
Is Waconia, Minnesota safe?⌄
Waconia is policed by the Carver County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 49 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 383 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Waconia, Minnesota?⌄
Carver County, which includes Waconia, has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Waconia, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Waconia is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,330/month and median household income is $111,031/year. The median home value is $431,000. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Waconia, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Waconia is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from