Waseca is a small town of 9,208 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $62,632
and a 4.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is
5% below the national average.
Strengths:
Waseca stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Waseca is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Waseca city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 94.9
Waseca's overall cost of living index is 94.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Waseca costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.
Metric
Waseca, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$176,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$838
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
75.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$62,632
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Waseca's violent crime rate is 195.2 per 100,000 residents
— 49% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
195.2 /100k
Property Crime
965.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Waseca is served primarily by WASECA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Waseca, MN
National Avg
School District
WASECA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Waseca sees average highs of 21.7°F in January
and 81.3°F in July,
with 37.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 52.3 inches of snow per year.
Waseca's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Waseca roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $176,900 and median rent is $838/month.
Waseca's violent crime rate is 195.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 965.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Waseca are operated by WASECA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 1 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1. 17.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Waseca, MN has a population of 9,208, a median household income of $62,632, and an unemployment rate of 4.7%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Waseca averages 21.7°F in January and 81.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.9 inches
with about 52.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Waseca, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56093.
The population of Waseca, Minnesota is 9,208 with a median age of 39.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Waseca: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $176,900, median household income $62,632, crime index 49 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Waseca side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
