2009 · Northside (Castle) Park · Wikimedia Commons
Otsego’s story
195 years in pictures
3 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
- 1831Otsego is settled
- 2005MIMap-doton-Otsego
- 2009Northside (Castle) Park
OtsegoMI
A town of 4,074, settled in 1831. Nearly 3.3% of it is conserved land.
Population
4,074
+4.1% since 2010
Median home value
$161K
Census ACS
Household income
$74K
median
Median age
35.8
years
Jobs based here
1,560
Balanced
What makes Otsego stand out
The 3 things Otsego does most differently from other towns.
Outdoors
#158 most walkable in MI
0.2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
3.3% of the town is conserved land.
A−School Grade
Schools
#130 for schools in MI
of 490 towns
School Grade A−.
100 U.S. towns● Otsego
Health
Healthier than 51%
of U.S. towns on CDC estimates
Better than MI on 2 measures, worse on 2.
Otsego’s report card
Now in Otsego
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Otsego is #685 of 710 in MI for “Most remote workers”. Fair?
Your answer becomes a post in Otsego’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →73°
Clear
Tonight L 59°
Local news
All →- Otsego vs Vicksburg - Boys Freshman Football 10/01/2026 | Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 27
- Otsego vs Edwardsburg - Girls Varsity Basketball 02/05/2027 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 26
- Otsego elementary students relocating after fire damages schoolWKZO · Sep 25
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Otsego. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Otsego
Most working residents leave Otsego for work: only 7% work in town. The top destinations are Kalamazoo (9%), Allegan (7%) and Portage (6%). Half commute less than 15 miles.
7%work in town
Where working residents work
In Otsego7%
Kalamazoo9%
Allegan7%
Portage6%
Plainwell4%
15 mi
median commute distance
1,560
jobs based in Otsego
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2021 · ACSCommute map →
Housing
Homes in Otsego sell for about $265K
The median sale price was $265,000 in May 2026.
$265Kmedian sale price
4
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Outdoors
3.3% of Otsego is conserved land
0.2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves.
3.3%conserved
3.3%
conserved · 44 of 1,334 acres
0.2 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
#158
most walkable in MI
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Allegan State Game Area | — | 15 |
| 2. Brookside Park | — | 10 |
| 3. North Side Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Schools
Otsego’s public schools outperform 84% of Michigan districts
The public schools Otsego’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 84% of Michigan’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
A−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Street Elementary School | PK–5 | 448 | B+ |
| Dix Street Elementary School | PK–5 | 357 | A− |
| St. Margaret School Private | K–4 | 14 | |
| Otsego Middle School | 6–8 | 542 | B |
| Otsego High School | 9–12 | 708 | A− |
| Otsego West Campus High School | 6–12 | 19 | Not graded |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MI on state tests and graduationAll 6 schools →
Health
Healthier than 51% of U.S. towns
Otsego beats the Michigan average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2.
B−Health Grade
32 measures vs. Michigan
2 better28 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Otsego | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with high blood pressure | 32.2% | 36.7% |
| Fewer adults who have had a stroke | 3.3% | 3.7% |
| More binge drinkers | 19.2% | 15.9% |
Beacon Allegan
9.1 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: primary care
64th
percentile among MI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Otsego has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 18°, and about 109 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
109″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter20–34°
Spring37–58°
Summer59–82°
Fall42–61°
Oct 11
typical first frost
May 7
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 57% of U.S. communities.
57risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesStrong wind
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 47% of U.S. towns
Otsego reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 53% report less.
B−Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Otsego2
Michigan4.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Otsego10.5
Michigan13
U.S.15.5
47th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
43rd
percentile among MI towns
8
violent crimes reported in 2025
42
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Famous people from Otsego
4 notable people were born in Otsego.
About Otsego
City in Michigan, United States
Otsego is a city in Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,120 at the 2020 census. The city is within Otsego Township, but is administratively autonomous. Otsego is situated on M-89 about three miles (4.8 km) west of Plainwell and US 131. It is about nine miles (14 km) southeast of Allegan, seventeen miles (27 km) north of Kalamazoo, and the Kalamazoo River flows east to west through the city.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1831
- Population
- 4,120
- Area
- 2.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 709 ft
- ZIP code
- 49078
- Area code
- 269
More about Otsego
Still missing for Otsego:a photo of Otsegoupcoming events