Waseca County
MN · Pop. 18,958 · Suburban County
Waseca County sits in Minnesota across 423 square miles, home to 18,958 people at 44.8 per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on corn, soybeans, hay. The median home price is $213,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.19%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 4b with a 153-day growing season, average summer highs of 80.5°F and average winter lows of 7.6°F. Annual rainfall averages 35.7 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Mayo Clinic Health Sys Waseca is 6 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 100% of homes. On the hazard side, tornado risk is high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- Broadband reaches 100% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Mayo Clinic Health Sys Waseca, with an emergency room, is just 6 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A strong agricultural economy built on corn, soybeans, hay means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
- A low poverty rate of 7.2% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- A 153-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- Average winter lows of 7.6°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.
At a glance
Waseca County, MN is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 56/100
- Median home price
- $213k
- Property tax
- 1.19%
- Growing season
- 153 days (zone 4b)
- Annual rainfall
- 35.7"
- Broadband
- 100%
- Nearest hospital
- Mayo Clinic Health Sys Waseca, 6 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Waseca County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Waseca County?
- Waseca County is in USDA hardiness zone 4b with a 153-day growing season, average summer highs of 80.5°F, and average winter lows of 7.6°F. The established crops are corn, soybeans, hay.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $213,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.19%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 100% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Mayo Clinic Health Sys Waseca is 6 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
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More counties in Minnesota
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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