Bluffton vs Wadena
Bluffton, Minnesota versus Wadena, Minnesota: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Bluffton edges out Wadena on overall objective livability (51 vs 41 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Bluffton | Wadena |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $61k | $44k |
| Cost of Living | $42k | $42k |
| Home Value | $154k | $152k |
| Monthly Rent | $830 | $643 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $80 | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.72% | 1.02% |
| Income Tax | 9.90% | 9.90% |
| Sales Tax | 8.04% | 8.04% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 14.37% | 16.05% |
| Unemployment | 0.0% | 10.7% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 9°F | 9°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 70°F | 70°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 29.3 in | 29.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.8 in | 50.8 in |
| Sunny Days | 233 days | 233 days |
| Summer Humidity | 58°F | 58°F |
| Comfortable Days | 79 days | 79 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 78.3 | 68.4 |
| Air Quality | 52 AQI | 51 AQI |
| School Quality | 60.0 | 60.0 |
| Violent Crime | 519/100k | 1245/100k |
| Property Crime | 571/100k | 1729/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 253 | 4,328 |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 37.4 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.13 | 0.13 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.02 | 0.92 |
| Political Leaning | R+46 | R+46 |
| White (%) | 92.9% | 93.3% |
| Black (%) | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Hispanic (%) | 4.0% | 2.6% |
| Asian (%) | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 2.8% | 4.1% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Walkability | 5.8/20 | 5.9/20 |
| Airport Distance | 146 mi | 142 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 86.6% | 83.5% |
| Amenities Nearby | 316.21 | 27.73 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bluffton or Wadena more affordable?
- Wadena has the lower cost of living: its index is $42k, compared with Bluffton's $42k and Wadena's $42k. Median rent is $830 in Bluffton versus $643 in Wadena.
- Is Bluffton or Wadena safer?
- Bluffton has the lower violent crime rate. Bluffton reports 519/100k and Wadena reports 1245/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Bluffton or Wadena?
- The median home value is $154k in Bluffton and $152k in Wadena, so homes are more affordable in Wadena.