2007 · Ottertail · Wikimedia Commons
Otter Tail’s story
Otter Tail in pictures
4 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 1 places on the National Register.
Otter TailMN
A town of 520.
5 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Own work · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
520
residents
Median home value
$448K
Census ACS
Household income
$100K
median
Median age
61.4
years
Jobs based here
51
A commuter town
Small town
520 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
OttertailRush LakeGirardAmorLeaf LakeOtter Tail
Otter Tail’s report card
Now in Otter Tail
Be the first to start the conversation.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Otter Tail. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Otter Tail
Most working residents leave Otter Tail for work: only 1% work in town. The top destinations are Perham (20%), Fergus Falls (11%) and Ottertail (9%). Half commute less than 20 miles.
1%work in town
Where working residents work
In Otter Tail1%
Perham20%
Fergus Falls11%
Ottertail9%
New York Mills5%
20 mi
median commute distance
51
jobs based in Otter Tail
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Otter Tail has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 80°, a January night drops to -1°, and about 46 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
46″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter3–22°
Spring31–52°
Summer56–78°
Fall34–54°
Oct 5
typical first frost
May 5
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
How healthy Otter Tail is
Otter Tail beats the Minnesota average on 9 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 8.
32 measures vs. Minnesota
9 better15 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Otter Tail | MN |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 6.9% | 9.3% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 8.8% | 11.4% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 12.3% | 8.5% |
Perham Health
12.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 47% of U.S. communities.
47risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
3
paid flood claims since 2011
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Outdoors
1% of Otter Tail is conserved land
2.6 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves.
1%conserved
1%
conserved · 196 of 18,793 acres
2.6 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Otter Tail for work
Where Otter Tail’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
51jobs based in Otter Tail
1%of working residents work in town
20 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Otter Tail
City in Minnesota, United States
Ottertail is a city in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 629 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 629
- Area
- 5.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,352 ft
- ZIP code
- 56571
- Area code
- 218
More about Otter Tail
Still missing for Otter Tail:upcoming events