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Otter Tail County, Minnesota Demographics 2026

Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a population of 60,281, the 17th most populous county in Minnesota. The median household income is $70,912 and the median home value is $252,500. The poverty rate is 8.9%.

Otter Tail County Quick Facts

Population 60,281
Median Household Income $70,912
Median Home Value $252,500
Poverty Rate 8.9%
Unemployment Rate 5.1%
Median Age 46.3 years
Homeownership Rate 79.2%
Affordability Ratio 3.6x
Bachelor's Degree+ 27.4%
High School Graduation 94.0%
Cities/Places 20
Population 60,281 17th of 87
Median Income $70,912 19% lower state
Poverty Rate 8.9%
Unemployment 5.1%

Economy & Housing

Employment

5.1% Unemployment Rate State: 3.9% | National: 5.2%
61.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 79.2%
Renter 20.8%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.6x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

17out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 40 | National average: 60

Education

Cities & Places in Otter Tail County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Fergus Falls city14,138$50,86510.7%$173,300
Perham city3,577$47,08819.5%$186,000
Pelican Rapids city2,589$65,48217.1%$177,700
New York Mills city1,319$51,69611.4%$144,900
Parkers Prairie city1,089$58,75013.8%$152,500
Henning city836$44,00011.7%$127,400
Battle Lake city794$58,1255.3%$221,000
Ottertail city490$83,7507.1%$262,500
Underwood city437$73,75014.0%$168,800
Deer Creek city273$55,0003.7%$123,100
Dalton city266$66,0943.8%$104,500
Bluffton city260$87,0006.9%$176,000
Vergas city241$85,0006.2%$163,700
Dent city232$46,25038.8%$104,300
Erhard city156N/A7.7%$103,100
Elizabeth city154$62,5004.5%$114,600
Clitherall city95$52,5000.0%$78,300
Vining city88$83,7500.0%$158,300
Richville city43N/A46.5%$130,000
Urbank city35$58,7505.7%$85,000

Population Overview

Otter Tail County is located in Minnesota with a total population of 60,281. It is the 17th most populous county out of 87 in Minnesota. The county encompasses 20 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Otter Tail County is 46.3 years. This is 20% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. 10.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Otter Tail County is $70,912. This is 19% lower than the state median of $87,556. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 10% lower. The poverty rate stands at 8.9%. This is 3% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 31% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $252,500. Housing costs are 17% lower than the state median of $305,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 79.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 72.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Otter Tail County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.8%. The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 6.7%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 5.0%.

Education

27.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 38.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.0%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Otter Tail County, Minnesota?

Otter Tail County has a population of 60,281, making it the 17th most populous county in Minnesota.

What is the median income in Otter Tail County?

The median household income in Otter Tail County is $70,912 with a poverty rate of 8.9%.

How many cities are in Otter Tail County, Minnesota?

Otter Tail County contains 20 Census-designated places.