The Town FilesOtsego, Minnesota
City in Wright County · population 19,966 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $396,700
- Household income
- $119,927
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 34.9
Otsego is a city of 19,966 people in Wright County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $396,700, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better transit than 96% of Minnesota towns, more upscale than 92% of Minnesota towns, better for families than 86% of Minnesota towns.
How Otsego 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 Otsego is worth $396,700, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $119,927, which is more affordable than 55% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,765 a month. 92.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Otsego | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $396,700 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,765 | $991 |
| Median household income | $119,927 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 92.7% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 2008 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Otsego
| People | Otsego | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.9 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.0% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.5% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.9% | — |
| Work from home | 15.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.2% | 90.2% |
Weather in Otsego
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 3.5°F. About 32.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.7 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Otsego since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 19, 1951 about 8.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 11 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 14, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 121 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on July 13, 2024.
Severe weather in Wright County since 1996
Wright County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 19, 2010 | Flood | EM-3310: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Wright County
Wright County had 48,758 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,999 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Otsego itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Otsego
6 public schools with 2,625 students, about 21.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie View Middle School | 5-8 | 857 | 23.8 |
| Prairie View Elementary School | K-4 | 744 | 16.9 |
| OTSEGO ELEMENTARY | K-4 | 549 | 18.3 |
| Kaleidoscope Charter Elementary Sch (charter) | K-5 | 288 | 28.8 |
| Kaleidoscope Middle School (charter) | 6-8 | 115 | — |
| Kaleidoscope Charter High School (charter) | 9-12 | 72 | 24.0 |
Towns near Otsego
- Albertville, MN2.8 mi · 7,896 people · home $343,700
- Elk River, MN5.4 mi · 25,835 people · home $370,100
- St. Michael, MN5.6 mi · 18,235 people · home $390,100
- Rogers, MN6.0 mi · 13,295 people · home $459,700
- Big Lake, MN7.1 mi · 7,924 people · home $404,900
- Hanover, MN7.6 mi · 3,548 people · home $447,900
- Big Lake, MN8.0 mi · 11,686 people · home $330,200
- Ramsey, MN8.2 mi · 27,646 people · home $359,600
Otsego questions
Is Otsego, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Otsego scores better for retirees than 15% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 16%. 10.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.9).
How much does a house cost in Otsego?
The median owner-occupied home in Otsego is valued at $396,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $119,927, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,765 a month.
What is the weather like in Otsego?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 3.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.9 inches of precipitation a year and 35.7 inches of snow.
Does Otsego get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Otsego since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 19, 1951. 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)