City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Owatonna, MN

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

26,462
Residents
$81,276
Median income
$234,600
Median home
$1,142
Median rent (state)

Owatonna - the verdict

Nationally, Owatonna sits in the 63rd percentile for household income and the 65th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

63rd
percentile, household income
52nd
percentile, home value
32nd
percentile, median rent
65th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Owatonna, MN

Owatonna is a small city in Minnesota, home to 26,462 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Owatonna brings in $81,276 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.4%. Owatonna's housing stock carries a median value of $234,600, and the median resident age is 40.0 years. 32.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 63.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 14 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 78% from five years earlier. Owatonna reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 970.9 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 44.8°F with 35.5 inches of precipitation per year and 44.2 inches of snowfall.

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 98.6 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,142 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Minnesota run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 37.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

26,462 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$81,276 /yr

Poverty 4.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Owatonna compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 63% higher than other cities
Home value 52% pricier than other cities
Median rent 32% pricier than other cities
Safety 65% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Minnesota and the picture shifts: Owatonna ranks #117 of 229 Minnesota cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

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 Owatonna'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.

63rdIncome percentile
65thSafety percentile

63rd percentile nationally for median household income · 65th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Owatonna's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Owatonna's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 62 Avg. percentile National median
Owatonna's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Owatonna's home value compares nationally

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

$234,600 48th percentile more affordable than 48% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Owatonna $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 - Owatonna, MN Owatonna, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Owatonna, 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 Owatonna, MN median $81,276/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%
Owatonna, 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 Owatonna, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 32.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.1%

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

Population
26,462
Median Income
$81,276
Median Home Value
$234,600
Median Age
40.0
Poverty Rate
4.4%
Labor force participation
63.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
32.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
970.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
150.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
820.4
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
44.8°F
Annual Precipitation
35.5"
Annual Snowfall
44.2"

Schools

Total Schools
12
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
26,300 residents26,400 residents26,500 residents26,600 residents26,700 residents 202020212022202320242025 26,413 residents 26,633 residents ▲ +0.8%
Owatonna's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
14
housing units authorized
Single-Family
10
detached homes
Multifamily
4
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 63
2020 114
2021 121
2022 172
2023 143
2024 14

Permit volume decreased 78% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.7%
Carpool
5.7%
Public Transit
1.4%
Walk
2.7%
Work from Home
8.4%
Other
1.1%

Based on 12,907 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 Owatonna sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,142/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
37.2 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Rosemount
26,509 people
Elk River
26,367 people
Shoreview
26,724 people
Austin
26,167 people
Chanhassen
26,001 people
Winona
25,998 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Owatonna's 26,462 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Venice, FL
26,467 people
Auburn, NY
26,475 people
Paramus, NJ
26,500 people
Sanger, CA
26,515 people
Forest Grove, OR
26,406 people
Jenks, OK
26,519 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Owatonna's $81,276 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Pasadena Hills, FL
$81,273 median income
Bayonne, NJ
$81,285 median income
Ayer, MA
$81,286 median income
Twin Lakes CDP (Santa Cruz County), CA
$81,288 median income
Avondale, AZ
$81,260 median income
Orem, UT
$81,292 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Owatonna, 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 Owatonna, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 85.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.3% White 85.8% Black or African American 4.8% Asian 0.6% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.1% 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 Owatonna 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
Owatonna (this city) 26,462 $81,276
Rosemount 26,509 $127,247
Elk River 26,367 $99,457
Shoreview 26,724 $109,399
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Owatonna, MN?

What is the population of Owatonna, MN? +

26,462 people live in Owatonna, MN according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Owatonna runs $81,276, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Owatonna? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Owatonna; 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.

Is Owatonna, MN safe? +

Owatonna has a total crime rate of 970.9 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

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

Owatonna's median home value sits at $234,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Owatonna? +

Owatonna has an average annual temperature of 44.8°F, 35.5 inches of precipitation, and 44.2 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

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