The Town FilesOtterbein, Indiana
Town in Benton County · population 1,144 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $158,500
- Household income
- $63,698
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 33.1
Otterbein is a town of 1,144 people in Benton County, Indiana. The median home is worth $158,500, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks easier by car than 77% of Indiana towns, better for first-time buyers than 76% of Indiana towns.
How Otterbein ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Otterbein is worth $158,500, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $63,698, which is more affordable than 52% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $926 a month. 68.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Otterbein | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,500 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $926 | $888 |
| Median household income | $63,698 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 68.1% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Otterbein
| People | Otterbein | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.1 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.4% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.3% | 89.2% |
Weather in Otterbein
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 16.3°F. About 39.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.9 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Otterbein since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 20, 1976 about 4.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 79 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 27, 2019.
Severe weather in Benton County since 1996
Benton County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4704: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
| May 4, 2018 | Flood | DR-4363: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Benton County
Benton County had 2,106 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,419 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Otterbein itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Otterbein
1 public school with 255 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otterbein Elementary School | K-6 | 255 | 12.8 |
Towns near Otterbein
- Oxford, IN8.7 mi · 1,165 people · home $121,800
- West Lafayette, IN9.2 mi · 44,595 people · home $350,000
- Shadeland, IN11.9 mi · 1,757 people · home $270,000
- Battle Ground, IN12.4 mi · 1,838 people · home $277,600
- Lafayette, IN13.3 mi · 70,783 people · home $172,800
- Brookston, IN14.0 mi · 1,631 people · home $158,500
- Fowler, IN15.0 mi · 2,337 people · home $111,800
- Boswell, IN15.2 mi · 800 people · home $104,800
Otterbein questions
Is Otterbein, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Otterbein scores better for retirees than 37% of Indiana towns and quieter than 67%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.1).
How much does a house cost in Otterbein?
The median owner-occupied home in Otterbein is valued at $158,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,698, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $926 a month.
What is the weather like in Otterbein?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 16.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.7 inches of precipitation a year and 18.9 inches of snow.
Does Otterbein get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Otterbein since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 20, 1976. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)