City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Otter Lake, MI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Otter Lake - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

387
Residents
$43,750
Median income
$107,700
Median home
$1,411
Median rent (state)

Otter Lake - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Otter Lake places in the 11th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

11th
percentile, household income
12th
percentile, home value
55th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Otter Lake, MI

387 people live in Otter Lake, Michigan - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Otter Lake brings in $43,750 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 8.6%. Typical homes in Otter Lake are valued around $107,700, and the median resident age is 53.8 years. Educational attainment runs 9.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 53.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in Michigan run below the national norm: the state registers 96.2 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,411 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Michigan's average monthly utility costs around $238 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 66.4 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

387 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$43,750 /yr

Poverty 8.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Otter Lake compare to other US cities?

Here's how Otter Lake stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 11% higher than other cities
Home value 12% pricier than other cities
Median rent 55% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Otter Lake against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Michigan only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Michigan-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Otter Lake toward the bottom of Michigan's cities

Among the 727 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Otter Lake ranks #624 - the 14th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Otter Lake only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#609 of 718
15th percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#61 of 727
76th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#537 of 721
26th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#339 of 727
53rd percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#624 of 727
14th percentile in Michigan

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Michigan only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

11thIncome percentile

11th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Otter Lake's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$107,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 88% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Otter Lake $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Otter Lake, MI Otter Lake, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Otter Lake, MI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Otter Lake, MI median $43,750/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Otter Lake, MI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Otter Lake, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 9.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 53.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
387
Median Income
$43,750
Median Home Value
$107,700
Median Age
53.8
Poverty Rate
8.6%
Labor force participation
53.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
9.4%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
356 residents358 residents360 residents362 residents364 residents 202020212022202320242025 363 residents 357 residents ▼ -1.7%
Otter Lake's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.7%
Carpool
9.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.6%
Work from Home
8.0%
Other
1.0%

Based on 176 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Michigan - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$238
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Michigan state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Michigan state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Otter Lake sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,411/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
66.4 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Sherwood
388 people
Empire
384 people
Kinde
390 people
Leland
393 people
Casnovia
394 people
Brimley
379 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Otter Lake's 387 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Greenville, CA
387 people
Oak Glen, CA
387 people
Tower Hill, IL
387 people
Vallonia, IN
387 people
Casey, IA
387 people
Everest, KS
387 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Otter Lake's $43,750 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Brookside, AL
$43,750 median income
Colony, AL
$43,750 median income
Midway, AL
$43,750 median income
Nunapitchuk, AK
$43,750 median income
East Fork, AZ
$43,750 median income
Gosnell, AR
$43,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Otter Lake, MI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Otter Lake, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 97.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 97.4% Black or African American 0.3% Asian 0.8% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 1.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Otter Lake compares to nearby Michigan cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Otter Lake (this city) 387 $43,750
Sherwood 388 $56,645
Empire 384 $75,938
Kinde 390 $62,500
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Otter Lake, MI?

What is the population of Otter Lake, MI? +

Otter Lake, MI has a population of 387 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Otter Lake, MI? +

Median annual household income in Otter Lake runs $43,750, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Otter Lake? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Otter Lake; the closest available measure is the Michigan state average, a cost of living index of 96.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Michigan vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Otter Lake, MI? +

A typical home in Otter Lake is worth $107,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.