City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Otsego, MN

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

21,358
Residents
$127,219
Median income
$367,200
Median home
$1,709
Median rent (state)

Otsego - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Otsego lands in the 89th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

89th
percentile, household income
74th
percentile, home value
68th
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: Otsego, MN

Otsego is a small city in Minnesota, home to 21,358 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Otsego households earn a median of $127,219 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 0.2%. Home values in Otsego run a median of $367,200, and the median resident age is 34.4 years. Educational attainment runs 41.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 73.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 243 residential building permits were authorized in Otsego (Construction Slowdown), down 27% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Minnesota at 98.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,709 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Minnesota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 53.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

21,358 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$127,219 /yr

Poverty 0.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Otsego compare to other US cities?

Otsego measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 89% higher than other cities
Home value 74% pricier than other cities
Median rent 68% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Otsego's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Minnesota, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

89thIncome percentile

89th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Otsego's home value compares nationally

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

$367,200 26th percentile more affordable than 26% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Otsego $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 - Otsego, MN Otsego, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Otsego, MN-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 Otsego, MN median $127,219/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%
Otsego, MN'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 Otsego, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 41.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 73.4%

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

Population
21,358
Median Income
$127,219
Median Home Value
$367,200
Median Age
34.4
Poverty Rate
0.2%
Labor force participation
73.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
41.8%

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
18,000 residents20,000 residents22,000 residents24,000 residents26,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 20,174 residents 24,525 residents ▲ +21.6%
Otsego's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
243
housing units authorized
Single-Family
229
detached homes
Multifamily
14
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
11.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 335
2020 473
2021 431
2022 327
2023 219
2024 243

Permit volume decreased 27% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
76.3%
Carpool
8.9%
Public Transit
0.6%
Walk
0.3%
Work from Home
13.4%

Based on 11,295 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Minnesota 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 Minnesota state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Otsego sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,709/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
53.6 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

New Hope
21,402 people
Willmar
21,136 people
West St. Paul
21,076 people
Lino Lakes
21,847 people
Golden Valley
21,927 people
Columbia Heights
22,016 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Otsego's 21,358 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

East Patchogue, NY
21,364 people
Stephenville, TX
21,345 people
Ashland, OR
21,343 people
Anniston, AL
21,377 people
Granite Bay, CA
21,378 people
Carlisle, PA
21,335 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Otsego's $127,219 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Forest Glen, MD
$127,196 median income
Dana Point, CA
$127,246 median income
Sun Valley Lake, IA
$127,188 median income
Morgan Hill, PA
$127,188 median income
Severance, CO
$127,257 median income
Dennis, MA
$127,292 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Otsego, MN 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 Otsego, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 83.6% 6.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.4% White 83.6% Black or African American 6.7% Asian 2.3% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.5% Two or more races 5.2% 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 Otsego compares to nearby Minnesota cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Otsego (this city) 21,358 $127,219
New Hope 21,402 $73,698
Willmar 21,136 $63,368
West St. Paul 21,076 $70,738
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Otsego, MN?

What is the population of Otsego, MN? +

Otsego, MN counts 21,358 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Otsego, MN? +

In Otsego, the typical household earns $127,219 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Otsego? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Otsego; the closest available measure is the Minnesota state average, a cost of living index of 98.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Minnesota vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Otsego, MN? +

Homes in Otsego carry a median value of $367,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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 Editorial

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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.