City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Ottertail, MN

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

490
Residents
$83,750
Median income
$262,500
Median home
$983
Median rent (state)

Ottertail - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Ottertail lands in the 65th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

65th
percentile, household income
58th
percentile, home value
18th
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: Ottertail, MN

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 490 residents in Ottertail, a small town within Minnesota. Ottertail households earn a median of $83,750 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 0.0%. Home values in Ottertail run a median of $262,500, and the median resident age is 58.7 years. About 25.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 57.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 8 residential building permits were authorized in Ottertail (Construction Slowdown), down 27% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. NOAA puts Ottertail's yearly average temperature at 40.9°F with 28.2 inches of precipitation per year.

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Minnesota scores 98.6 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $983 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Minnesota's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 79.4 out of 100 (High).

Population

490 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$83,750 /yr

Poverty 0.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Ottertail compare to other US cities?

Where Ottertail sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 65% higher than other cities
Home value 58% pricier than other cities
Median rent 18% 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 Ottertail'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.

65thIncome percentile

65th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Ottertail's home value compares nationally

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

$262,500 42nd percentile more affordable than 42% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Ottertail $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 - Ottertail, MN Ottertail, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Ottertail, 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 Ottertail, MN median $83,750/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%
Ottertail, 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 Ottertail, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 25.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.3%

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

Population
490
Median Income
$83,750
Median Home Value
$262,500
Median Age
58.7
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Labor force participation
57.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
25.5%

Climate

Avg Temperature
40.9°F
Annual Precipitation
28.2"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
600 residents650 residents700 residents750 residents 202020212022202320242025 641 residents 734 residents ▲ +14.5%
Ottertail's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
8
housing units authorized
Single-Family
8
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
16.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 11
2020 15
2021 21
2022 15
2023 10
2024 8

Permit volume decreased 27% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
75.6%
Carpool
7.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
17.1%

Based on 246 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 Ottertail sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$983/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
79.4 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Fountain
490 people
Lyle
490 people
Barnum
491 people
Bertha
489 people
Danube
489 people
Cass Lake
492 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Ottertail's 490 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Clayhatchee, AL
490 people
Lisman, AL
490 people
Pleasant Groves, AL
490 people
Ila, GA
490 people
Leslie, GA
490 people
Ualapue, HI
490 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Ottertail's $83,750 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Denali Park, AK
$83,750 median income
Euharlee, GA
$83,750 median income
Iona, ID
$83,750 median income
Elsah, IL
$83,750 median income
Glasford, IL
$83,750 median income
New Minden, IL
$83,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Ottertail, 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 Ottertail, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.9% White 94.5% Black or African American 0.4% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.9% Two or more races 1.2% 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 Ottertail 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
Ottertail (this city) 490 $83,750
Fountain 490 $72,750
Lyle 490 $59,000
Barnum 491 $49,583
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN NOAA Normals Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Ottertail, MN?

What is the population of Ottertail, MN? +

The population of Ottertail, MN stands at 490 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Ottertail households earn a median of $83,750 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Ottertail? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Ottertail; 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 Ottertail, MN? +

Ottertail's median home value sits at $262,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Ottertail? +

The average annual temperature in Ottertail runs 40.9°F, 28.2 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, 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.