2007 · Ottertail · Wikimedia Commons
Ottertail’s story
Ottertail in pictures
4 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
OttertailMN
A town of 490. A regional job hub with 582 jobs.
2 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Own work · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
490
+10% since 2010
Typical home
$369K
+5% in a year
Household income
$81K
median
Median age
55.8
years
Jobs based here
582
A job hub
What makes Ottertail stand out
The thing Ottertail does most differently from other towns.
Small town
490 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Otter TailLeaf LakeOttertail
Ottertail’s report card
Now in Ottertail
Be the first to start the conversation.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Ottertail. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Ottertail
Most working residents leave Ottertail for work: only 8% work in town. The top destinations are Perham (17%), Fergus Falls (11%) and Wadena (10%). Half commute less than 19 miles.
8%work in town
Where working residents work
In Ottertail8%
Perham17%
Fergus Falls11%
Wadena10%
New York Mills8%
19 mi
median commute distance
582
jobs based in Ottertail
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Ottertail 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
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
How healthy Ottertail is
Ottertail beats the Minnesota average on 9 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 4.
32 measures vs. Minnesota
9 better19 too close to call4 worse
| What stands out | Ottertail | MN |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 6.6% | 9.3% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 8.2% | 11.4% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.8% | 8.5% |
Perham Health
11.1 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Housing
A typical Ottertail home is worth about $369K
The typical Ottertail home is worth about $369,000, up 5% in a year, 5% above the Minnesota typical home.
$369KZillow home value
Typical home value
Ottertail$369K
Minnesota$351K
+5%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
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
2
paid flood claims since 2001
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
A job hub
Every workday, about 561 people come to Ottertail for work
Where Ottertail’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
582jobs based in Ottertail
8%of working residents work in town
19 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Ottertail
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 Ottertail
Still missing for Ottertail:local news coverageupcoming events