Ottertail, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Ottertail, Minnesota had a total population of 490, the 506th largest city in Minnesota, with a median household income of $80,500, which is 10% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 8.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Ottertail Quick Facts
How Ottertail Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 490 | 490 | +0.0% |
| Median household income | $83,750 | $80,500 | -3.9% |
| Median home value | $262,500 | $332,900 | +26.8% |
How Ottertail Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 41 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Ottertail Rankings in Minnesota
Explore Minnesota Rankings
Other Cities in Otter Tail County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fergus Falls | 14,181 | $56,162 | 9.1% | $194,000 |
| Perham | 3,627 | $49,716 | 19.1% | $199,000 |
| Pelican Rapids | 2,586 | $63,917 | 16.6% | $174,100 |
| New York Mills | 1,371 | $56,875 | 15.8% | $166,300 |
| Parkers Prairie | 980 | $57,578 | 10.8% | $168,500 |
| Henning | 860 | $45,500 | 13.8% | $135,700 |
| Battle Lake | 786 | $59,375 | 6.5% | $257,600 |
| Underwood | 461 | $75,000 | 9.5% | $187,500 |
| Rothsay | 454 | $86,250 | 7.3% | $153,400 |
| Deer Creek | 330 | $52,273 | 8.8% | $120,800 |
Cities Similar to Ottertail
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fountain | 493 | $78,750 | $185,300 | 18.1% | 6.7% |
| Willernie | 495 | $85,531 | $331,300 | 32.5% | 6.1% |
| Fifty Lakes | 478 | $84,615 | $457,300 | 42.0% | 10.7% |
| Kandiyohi | 493 | $73,214 | $161,600 | 18.9% | 5.5% |
| Lafayette | 484 | $88,750 | $155,800 | 22.1% | 3.9% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 490, Ottertail's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Ottertail is a small community located in Minnesota, within Otter Tail County. The total population is 490. It ranks as the 506th most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Ottertail is 55.8 years. This is 44% higher than the state median of 38.8 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Ottertail is $80,500. This is 10% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also about the same as the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.6%. This is 7% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. This is 14% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $332,900. Housing costs are 1% higher than the state median of $329,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x. 89.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 72.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Ottertail has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.3%.
Education
31.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 20% lower than the state rate of 39.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Ottertail, Minnesota is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Minnesota state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Ottertail, Minnesota?
Ottertail, Minnesota has a population of 490 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Ottertail, MN?
The median household income in Ottertail is $80,500, which is about the same as the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Ottertail, MN?
The poverty rate in Ottertail is 8.6%. This means approximately 42 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Ottertail, Minnesota?
Ottertail's population is 92.2% White, 0.0% Black, 5.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Ottertail, MN?
The median home value in Ottertail is $332,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x.
How educated is Ottertail, Minnesota?
31.4% of adults (25+) in Ottertail hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 11.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.