Living in Ottertail, Minnesota
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Ottertail · Census data 2020–2024
Ottertail has 490 residents with a median age of 55.8. The median household income is $80,500 (10% lower than the Minnesota median), the median home value is $332,900, the median rent is $1,150/month.
Ottertail is a small town, so Census survey estimates have wide margins of error. Treat percentages as approximate.
Ottertail at a glance
- Population
- 490
- Median age
- 55.8State: 38.8
- Median household income
- $80,500State: $89,062
- Median home value
- $332,900State: $329,300
- Median rent
- $1,150/moState: $1,280
- Homeowners
- 89.7%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 31.4%
- Average commute
- 29 min
Is Ottertail a good place to live?
Pros: A poverty rate of 8.6%.
Cons: Median household income 10% lower than the Minnesota median; home values about the same as the state median; an average commute of 29 minutes; unemployment of 4.6%.
The weather is best in June to September.
Cost of living in Ottertail
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Ottertail the median home value is $332,900, about the same as the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $1,150 per month, which is 20% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,719 a month in housing costs.
Ottertail median household income
The median household income in Ottertail is $80,500 and the income per person is $59,018. 8.6% of residents live below the poverty line (Minnesota: 9.3%).
Housing in Ottertail: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 408
- Owner-occupied
- 89.7%
- Renter-occupied
- 10.3%
- Vacant
- 45.1%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1996
- Average household size
- 2.19
45.1% of homes are vacant most of the year, a sign that Ottertail has many vacation and second homes.
Ottertail demographics
- Population
- 490
- Median age
- 55.8
- Under 18
- 16.9%
- 65 and older
- 32%
- Households
- 224
- Foreign-born
- 2.2%
- Veterans
- 7.4%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Ottertail ›
Education in Ottertail
31.4% of adults 25 and older in Ottertail have a bachelor's degree or higher (Minnesota: 39.4%), and 11.6% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Ottertail
- Unemployment rate
- 4.6%State: 4.1%
- Average commute
- 29 minState: 23 min
- Work from home
- 19.5%
- Drive alone
- 70.8%
- Public transit
- 0%
- Walk to work
- 0%
- Homes with broadband
- 92.9%
Ottertail vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottertail | 490 | $80,500 | $332,900 | $1,150 |
| Henning | 860 | $45,500 | $135,700 | $797 |
| Dent | 230 | $52,500 | $106,300 | $842 |
| New York Mills | 1,371 | $56,875 | $166,300 | $727 |
| Clitherall | 111 | $57,750 | $78,100 | — |
| Perham | 3,627 | $49,716 | $199,000 | $855 |
| Deer Creek | 330 | $52,273 | $120,800 | $381 |
| Battle Lake | 786 | $59,375 | $257,600 | $1,052 |
| Bluffton | 263 | $100,417 | $182,300 | $825 |
More for people moving to Ottertail
Ottertail ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Ottertail: FAQ
What is the median household income in Ottertail, MN?
The median household income in Ottertail is $80,500, 10% lower than the Minnesota median of $89,062 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Ottertail?
The median home value in Ottertail is $332,900, compared with $329,300 in Minnesota.
How much is rent in Ottertail?
The median gross rent in Ottertail is $1,150 per month, about 20% of household income.
Is Ottertail, MN a good place to live?
Pluses: a poverty rate of 8.6%. Minuses: median household income 10% lower than the Minnesota median; home values about the same as the state median; an average commute of 29 minutes; unemployment of 4.6%.
What is the median age in Ottertail?
The median age in Ottertail is 55.8 years (Minnesota: 38.8).
How long is the commute in Ottertail?
The average commute to work in Ottertail is 29 minutes; 19.5% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Ottertail?
The unemployment rate in Ottertail is 4.6% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Ottertail?
31.4% of adults in Ottertail have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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