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COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Otter Tail County

Minnesota · 57,159 residents · 1,972 sq mi
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The short version

With 57,159 people, Otter Tail County is a county in Minnesota. The median age is 41.1, about 6 years above the US median. 80% of homes are owner-occupied. Households here earn about 25% less than in Minnesota as a whole. About 17% of adults have finished a four-year degree. Renters pay $391 a month at the median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 41.1
US median: 35.2
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 37%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
57,159
+13%since 1990
from 50,714 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
41.1
+10%since 1990
from 37.3 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
1,972 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
50K53K56K59K61K19902000201020202024Otter Tail County
202460K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 55.5%(3,127)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 96.5%(3,689)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.9%(4,511)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 198%(4,583)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 244.3%(2,435)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 349.3%(5,315)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4414.9%(8,542)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5413.8%(7,863)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 6410.9%(6,236)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 749.5%(5,410)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 846.5%(3,718)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over3%(1,730)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$35,395
+23%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $21,909 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$18,014
+72%since 1990
from $10,467 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
10.1%
−4.1 ptssince 1990
from 14.2% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$84,400
+37%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $46,900 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$391
+2%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $290 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
80.0%
+1.9 ptssince 1990
from 78.1% in 1990
20.0% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic98.8%(50,116)
Black0.1%(37)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(206)
Asian0.5%(249)
2000
White, non-Hispanic96.5%(55,137)
Black0.3%(160)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(957)
Asian0.4%(250)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.6%(1,589)
Cuban0.2%(99)
Dominican0.2%(92)
Puerto Rican0.1%(60)
Ecuadorian0.1%(51)
Colombian0.1%(31)
Bolivian0%(21)
Peruvian0%(18)
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Korean0.2%(94)
Chinese0.2%(93)
Japanese0.1%(64)
Asian Indian0.1%(42)
Filipino0.1%(37)
Hmong0%(7)
Thai0%(5)
Pacific Islander origin
Marshallese0.1%(33)
Samoan0%(13)
Ancestry
German37%(22,395)
Norwegian25.8%(15,611)
Irish7.8%(4,729)
Swedish7.6%(4,594)
English5.3%(3,198)
Polish3.6%(2,161)
Finnish3.4%(2,065)
American3.3%(1,996)
French1.8%(1,100)
Dutch1.6%(963)
Danish1.2%(744)
Italian1.1%(672)
+ 40 more ancestry groups with data
Czech0.8%(499)
Scottish0.6%(380)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(212)
Russian0.3%(202)
Somali0.3%(188)
British0.3%(180)
Arab0.3%(157)
Welsh0.2%(114)
Lebanese0.2%(105)
Canadian0.1%(69)
Swiss0.1%(66)
West Indian0.1%(63)
Ukrainian0.1%(55)
Hungarian0.1%(54)
Serbian0.1%(51)
Croatian0.1%(48)
Belgian0.1%(46)
Portuguese0.1%(46)
Greek0.1%(41)
Slovak0.1%(32)
Iraqi0%(26)
Austrian0%(22)
Brazilian0%(19)
Slovene0%(18)
Egyptian0%(11)
Latvian0%(9)
Iranian0%(5)
Syrian0%(3)
Turkish0%(3)
Kenyan0%(2)
Haitian0%(2)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.2%
+4.2 ptssince 1990
from 13.0% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
81.4%
+9.8 ptssince 1990
from 71.6% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
5.0%
+1.4 ptssince 1990
from 3.6% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.1 min
−48%since 1990
from 26.8 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married26.1%(5,936)
Married63%(14,317)
Widowed3.1%(694)
Divorced7.8%(1,765)
Women 15+
Never married16.9%(3,909)
Married62%(14,327)
Widowed13.8%(3,200)
Divorced7.3%(1,678)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
5.6%
−2.0 ptssince 2013
from 7.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
52.1%
−1.2 ptssince 2020
from 53.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
21.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 21.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
26.7%
+2.1 ptssince 2020
from 24.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
20.2%
+1.5 ptssince 2020
from 18.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.6%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 3.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
71.6%
−1.9 ptssince 2020
from 73.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
44.9%
+3.1 ptssince 2020
from 41.8% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)15.3%(577)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)13.8%(521)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era43.1%(1,631)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War9.3%(353)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.2%(7)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 3,781 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Otter Tail County to nearby counties

OTTER TAIL COUNTY VS
Douglas County
Income$79,043+123%
Home value$321,400+281%
Population40,120−34%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTER TAIL COUNTY VS
Grant County
Income$73,917+109%
Home value$191,000+126%
Population6,085−90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTER TAIL COUNTY VS
Wilkin County
Income$71,410+102%
Home value$182,200+116%
Population6,288−90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTER TAIL COUNTY VS
Wadena County
Income$61,467+74%
Home value$173,000+105%
Population14,388−76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Otter Tail County, Minnesota?

Otter Tail County, Minnesota has about 57,159 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Otter Tail County, Minnesota?

The typical household in Otter Tail County, Minnesota earns about $35,395 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Otter Tail County, Minnesota expensive?

In Otter Tail County, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $84,400, and the typical rent is about $391 a month.

How educated are people in Otter Tail County, Minnesota?

About 17.2% of adults age 25 and over in Otter Tail County, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Otter Tail County, Minnesota?

About 10.1% of people in Otter Tail County, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Otter Tail County, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Otter Tail County, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,445 residents, a change of about 13 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →