Wadena Township is a township in Wadena County, Minnesota, home to about 1,023 people across 31 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 56481 and 56482.
Homes sold for a median of $137 per square foot across 2 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and 1 of 2 were seller’s markets.
Population1,02333 per sq mi
Median home value$179,600Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$137Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Mostly Wadena City (Wadena County); part is in Wadena Township
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Wadena Township. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
The Wadena Township guide is on the way
We’re writing up Wadena Township’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
History
What it’s like to live there
Getting around
Things to do
Are you a local agent who knows Wadena Township well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
Around Wadena Township
Distances
Nearest major airport
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)141 miles away
Closer regional airport
Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD)46 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+
Minneapolis, MN136 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+
Chicago, IL486 miles away
Straight-line distances from the center of Wadena Township; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Population over time
Wadena Township had 907 residents in the 2020 census, down 10% since 2000.
It’s the 581st largest of 2,727 towns in Minnesota by population.
Wadena County grew from 7,921 residents in 1900 to 14,065 in 2020.
Wadena County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Weather by month
Average highs peak around 78°F in summer, and winter lows average -1°F. About 29.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 51 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Wadena 3 S, MN weather station (5 miles away).
Jobs in Wadena County
3,946 jobs at 399 businesses in Wadena County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
Health care
116 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Wadena Township’s ZIP codes.
Nearest hospitals
Astera HealthCritical access hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 3 of 5 · Wadena2.6 miles
Lakewood Health SystemCritical access hospital · emergency room · Staples18.1 miles
Perham HealthCritical access hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 3 of 5 · Perham25.3 miles
Providers with an office here
Primary care doctors
14
Specialist doctors
5
Dentists
10
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants
24
Mental health providers
40
Physical and occupational therapists
15
Optometrists
5
Chiropractors
3
Pharmacies
9
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Places in and around Wadena Township
Parks (5 nearby)
Sunnybrook Park · 66 acres1.2 mi
Tapley Park · 5 acres2.8 mi
Northwest Park · 3 acres1.6 mi
Burlington Northern Park · 2 acres1.9 mi
Grocery stores (1 nearby)
Walmart Supercenter1.3 mi
Libraries (1 nearby)
Wadena City Library2.0 mi
Museums (1 nearby)
Wadena County Historical Society1.5 mi
Counts are within about 4 miles of the center of town.
Public schools here are run by Freshwater Education District, Verndale Public School District, Wadena-Deer Creek School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
Public schools(10)
School
Grades
Students
Type
Distance
Early Childhood Special EducationWadena
Pre-K
64
Special Education
2.6 mi
Verndale ElementaryVerndale
Pre-K–6
253
Public
5.6 mi
Wadena-Deer Creek ElementaryWadena
Pre-K–4
450
Public
2.2 mi
Leaf River AcademyWadena
K–12
15
Special Education
2.6 mi
Elm Tree AcademyWadena
2–12
9
Special Education
2.6 mi
Wadena-Deer Creek 5th and 6th GradeWadena
5–6
159
Public
2.3 mi
White Pine AcademyWadena
5–12
11
Special Education
2.6 mi
Freshwater Education District ALCWadena
6–12
101
Alternative Education
2.6 mi
Verndale SecondaryVerndale
7–12
231
Public
5.6 mi
Wadena-Deer Creek Senior HighWadena
7–12
470
Public
2.3 mi
Private schools(2)
School
Grades
Students
Affiliation
Distance
Verndale Area Christian AcademyVerndale
K–6
53
Assembly of God
6.0 mi
Green Meadow SchoolWadena
1–8
14
Amish
6.7 mi
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
From OfferBacked · Free
Get matched with a local agent.
Buying or selling around Wadena Township? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Shares ZIP codes with Wadena City (Wadena County), Leaf River, Compton, Aldrich Township, Verndale, Wing River, Bluffton Township, Bartlett, Wadena City (Otter Tail County), Lyons Township (Wadena County), Stowe Prairie, Thomastown, Blowers, Rockwood Township (Wadena County), North Germany, Bullard and Poplar.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.