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Compton

A township of 798 people in Otter Tail County, Minnesota
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Headlines via Google News · Articles belong to their publishers.

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Around town

The places and views that make it Compton

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Outdoors in Compton

Parks & trails →
Conserved land0.1%30 of 22,562 acres
Trails3.3 mi0.1 mi per sq mi
Parks & preserves1named on the map

Know a trail or park that’s missing? Anyone can add it to OpenStreetMap, and it shows up here on the next refresh.

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

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Know Compton

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About Compton

Township in Minnesota, United States
798Population
35.7 sq miArea
1,378 ftElevation

Compton Township is a township in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 798 at the 2020 census. Compton Township was organized in 1875, and named for James Compton, an early settler.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

Living in Compton

Work & commute in Compton

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Most working residents leave Compton for work: only 0% work in town. The top destinations are Perham (15%), Wadena (14%) and New York Mills (6%). Half commute less than 23 miles.

Perham
15%
Wadena
14%
New York Mills
6%
Henning
6%
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Compton →

Health in Compton

Compared with Minnesota

1better than MN·17worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 14 are too close to call.

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

Care nearby

Astera HealthWadena · 4.3 mi · ER · rural critical access
Community Health Service Inc. MoorheadMoorhead · 79.6 mi · sliding-scale fees
Primary careShortage · Compton
DentalShortage · county-wide
Mental healthShortage · county-wide
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · ZIP codes 56482, 56527, 56518 · CMS · HRSAHealth in Compton →

Natural hazards in Compton

24
Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 24% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Compton →

Climate in Compton

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Compton has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 79°, a January night drops to 0°, and about 51 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

22° / 4°Winter
52° / 31°Spring
77° / 56°Summer
53° / 35°Fall
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Compton →

Schools in Compton

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C+

School Grade C+

The public schools Compton’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 58% of Minnesota’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

Schools1

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MN. Ratings are from neighbors.

Libraries near Compton

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Nearest: Wadena Public LibraryWadena · 4.4 miles · 38 hrs a week
Famous people from ComptonWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Compton.Meet them →

How things work in Compton

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The porch light’s on

Where to, neighbor?

You’re in Compton, MNOtter Tail CountyView boundary

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/15 · 2025-01-01