Minnesota · GEOID 27111

Otter Tail County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 60,475 · 36,698 housing units

Median household income

$72,255

State $90,564

Median home value

$273,000

State $324,699

Median gross rent

$868

State $1,292

Homeownership rate

79.5%

State 72.2%

Renter cost-burden rate

42.5%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

18.8%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.6%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

5.6%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

31.4%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

3.78

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Otter Tail County	Minnesota
Population	60,475	5,739,445
Population density (per sq. mi.)	30.67	—
Median household income	$72,255	$90,564
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$99,700	—
Households	25,157	—
Average household size	2.35 people	—
Owner-occupied	79.5%	72.2%
Renter-occupied	20.5%	27.8%
Race	91.2% White · 1.1% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Otter Tail County compared with Minnesota.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

28.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 39.4%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	20.2%	$62,138	$1,553	$200,279
1 earner	26.2%	$62,250	$1,556	$200,696
2 earners	43.1%	$114,303	$2,858	$394,455
3+ earners	10.5%	$139,964	$3,499	$489,974

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

25,157

Average size: 2.35 people

Households with children

5,747

22.8% of households

Per-capita income

$39,580

Poverty rate: 8.9%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

79.5% owner-occupied vs. state average 72.2%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 83.1% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 6.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

51.2% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,979.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $273,000.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $868.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 11,541 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 1.1% · For rent 2.7% · Seasonal 87.6% · Other 8.2%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

4.1% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 95.9% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

27.5%

10,107 units of 36,698 total

⚑ Above the 10% threshold — meaningful pressure on year-round residents from second-home / short-term-rental demand.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

2.6%

945 units of 36,698 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$57,804

100% MHI$72,255

120% MHI$86,706

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Otter Tail County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$55,850	$63,800	$79,750
100% AMI	$69,790	$79,760	$99,700
120% AMI	$83,750	$95,700	$119,650

HUD FMR Area: Otter Tail County, MN. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

42.5% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (20.4% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

18.8% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Otter Tail County.

Covered employment

19,254

Across 20 sectors

Establishments

1,907

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$51,911

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	3,878	$61,538	$198,046	−$74,954	$1,538
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	2,643	$33,190	$92,525	−$180,475	$830
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	1,984	$19,902	$43,063	−$229,937	$498
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	1,701	$47,997	$147,642	−$125,358	$1,200
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	1,382	$63,324	$204,694	−$68,306	$1,583
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	1,275	$62,400	$201,254	−$71,746	$1,560
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	809	$60,453	$194,007	−$78,993	$1,511
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	786	$50,133	$155,593	−$117,407	$1,253
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	754	$33,428	$93,411	−$179,589	$836
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	647	$63,392	$204,947	−$68,053	$1,585
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	496	$109,175	$375,367	+$102,367	$2,729
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	492	$74,736	$247,173	−$25,827	$1,868
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	485	$48,288	$148,725	−$124,275	$1,207
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	481	$60,403	$193,821	−$79,179	$1,510
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	443	$48,414	$149,194	−$123,806	$1,210
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	441	$77,021	$255,679	−$17,321	$1,926
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	310	$17,216	$33,064	−$239,936	$430
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	148	$35,127	$99,735	−$173,265	$878
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	68	$289,076	$1,045,019	+$772,019	$7,227
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	31	$44,918	$136,181	−$136,819	$1,123

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	1,911	$61,447	$197,707	−$75,293	$1,536
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	1,701	$47,997	$147,642	−$125,358	$1,200
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	1,680	$19,398	$41,186	−$231,814	$485
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	1,280	$41,309	$122,747	−$150,253	$1,033
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	1,052	$58,690	$187,445	−$85,555	$1,467
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	904	$78,232	$260,187	−$12,813	$1,956
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	796	$28,851	$76,374	−$196,626	$721
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	726	$50,213	$155,890	−$117,110	$1,255
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	652	$55,709	$176,348	−$96,652	$1,393
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	623	$60,399	$193,806	−$79,194	$1,510
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	595	$27,773	$72,361	−$200,639	$694
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	549	$26,676	$68,278	−$204,722	$667
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	496	$109,175	$375,367	+$102,367	$2,729
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	481	$60,403	$193,821	−$79,179	$1,510
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	435	$25,532	$64,019	−$208,981	$638
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	411	$50,994	$158,797	−$114,203	$1,275
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	368	$56,632	$179,784	−$93,216	$1,416
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	368	$60,157	$192,905	−$80,095	$1,504
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	340	$84,264	$282,640	+$9,640	$2,107
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	327	$78,767	$262,178	−$10,822	$1,969
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	318	$23,410	$56,120	−$216,880	$585
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	312	$34,568	$97,654	−$175,346	$864
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	304	$72,364	$238,344	−$34,656	$1,809
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	304	$22,684	$53,418	−$219,582	$567
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	296	$59,059	$188,818	−$84,182	$1,476
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	261	$49,258	$152,335	−$120,665	$1,231
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	235	$17,131	$32,748	−$240,252	$428
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	199	$72,253	$237,931	−$35,069	$1,806
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	182	$37,343	$107,984	−$165,016	$934
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	180	$57,562	$183,246	−$89,754	$1,439
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	158	$27,193	$70,202	−$202,798	$680
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	151	$29,781	$79,835	−$193,165	$745
NAICS 334 Computer and electronic product manufacturing NAICS 334	145	$76,076	$252,161	−$20,839	$1,902
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	137	$87,013	$292,872	+$19,872	$2,175
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	130	$45,543	$138,507	−$134,493	$1,139
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	130	$57,860	$184,355	−$88,645	$1,447
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	120	$79,971	$266,660	−$6,340	$1,999
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	120	$28,163	$73,813	−$199,187	$704
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	118	$60,670	$194,815	−$78,185	$1,517
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	117	$38,379	$111,840	−$161,160	$959
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	109	$62,671	$202,263	−$70,737	$1,567
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	99	$89,892	$303,589	+$30,589	$2,247
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	88	$49,776	$154,264	−$118,736	$1,244
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	68	$289,076	$1,045,019	+$772,019	$7,227
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	60	$49,164	$151,986	−$121,014	$1,229
NAICS 523 Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities NAICS 523	58	$124,997	$434,262	+$161,262	$3,125
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	55	$50,859	$158,295	−$114,705	$1,271
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	53	$17,702	$34,873	−$238,127	$443
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	43	$13,960	$20,944	−$252,056	$349
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	34	$53,231	$167,124	−$105,876	$1,331
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	33	$21,541	$49,163	−$223,837	$539
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	32	$60,910	$195,708	−$77,292	$1,523
NAICS 212 Mining (except oil and gas) NAICS 212	31	$44,918	$136,181	−$136,819	$1,123
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	31	$58,385	$186,309	−$86,691	$1,460
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	30	$58,566	$186,983	−$86,017	$1,464
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	29	$65,299	$212,046	−$60,954	$1,632
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	24	$16,954	$32,089	−$240,911	$424
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	14	$29,460	$78,641	−$194,359	$737
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	11	$54,541	$172,001	−$100,999	$1,364
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	4	$10,077	$6,491	−$266,509	$252

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	3,090	(620)	(17%)	$13.69	$28,470	$74,956	$712
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	4,380	(780)	(15%)	$14.93	$31,060	$84,596	$777
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	6,150	(400)	(6%)	$15.21	$31,650	$86,793	$791
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	550	130	31%	$15.73	$32,710	$90,738	$818
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	4,990	(880)	(15%)	$17.85	$37,130	$107,191	$928
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	2,890	10	0%	$19.31	$40,160	$118,470	$1,004
Tellers SOC 43-3071	610	(310)	(34%)	$19.55	$40,660	$120,331	$1,017
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	260	(350)	(57%)	$20.95	$43,580	$131,200	$1,090
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	3,130	(1,850)	(37%)	$21.13	$43,950	$132,577	$1,099
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	3,810	(590)	(13%)	$22.63	$47,080	$144,228	$1,177
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	2,420	880	57%	$26.28	$54,660	$172,444	$1,367
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	2,380	1,300	120%	$27.71	$57,630	$183,499	$1,441
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	3,230	180	6%	$28.42	$59,120	$189,045	$1,478
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	1,240	(580)	(32%)	$28.68	$59,650	$191,018	$1,491
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	2,720	380	16%	—	$65,920	$214,357	$1,648
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	240	(360)	(60%)	$33.38	$69,430	$227,423	$1,736
Electricians SOC 47-2111	1,140	260	30%	$34.95	$72,690	$239,557	$1,817
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	710	170	31%	$35.02	$72,850	$240,153	$1,821
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	970	70	8%	$36.92	$76,790	$254,819	$1,920
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	4,650	920	25%	$45.40	$94,420	$320,444	$2,361

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 27111 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.