The Town FilesOtisco, Minnesota
Township in Waseca County · population 544 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $320,300
- Household income
- $85,833
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 36.0
Otisco is a township of 544 people in Waseca County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $320,300, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks quieter than 75% of Minnesota towns, better for families than 74% of Minnesota towns.
How Otisco ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Otisco is worth $320,300, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $85,833, which is more affordable than 34% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,500 a month. 93.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Otisco | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $320,300 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,500 | $991 |
| Median household income | $85,833 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 93.0% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.6% | — |
Who lives in Otisco
| People | Otisco | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.9% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.6% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.7% | — |
| Work from home | 14.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.5% | 90.2% |
Weather in Otisco
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 4.8°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.3 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Otisco since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 30, 1967 about 9.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 35 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 17, 2009.
Severe weather in Waseca County since 1996
Waseca County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2024 | Flood | DR-4797: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| November 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4290: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Waseca County
Waseca County had 5,530 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,072 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Otisco itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Towns near Otisco
- Woodville, MN5.6 mi · 1,285 people · home $310,400
- New Richland, MN6.1 mi · 1,229 people · home $137,000
- Lemond, MN6.4 mi · 503 people · home $263,200
- Waseca, MN7.2 mi · 9,229 people · home $189,200
- Berlin, MN8.7 mi · 506 people · home $279,500
- Meriden, MN8.8 mi · 620 people · home $258,300
- Ellendale, MN11.4 mi · 676 people · home $155,200
- Blooming Grove, MN12.4 mi · 568 people · home $320,700
Otisco questions
Is Otisco, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Otisco scores better for retirees than 66% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 75%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.0).
How much does a house cost in Otisco?
The median owner-occupied home in Otisco is valued at $320,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,833, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,500 a month.
What is the weather like in Otisco?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 4.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 52.3 inches of snow.
Does Otisco get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Otisco since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 30, 1967. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- 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)