The Town FilesOtto, Pennsylvania
Township in McKean County · population 1,516 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $102,400
- Household income
- $53,214
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 65 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 52.1
Otto is a township of 1,516 people in McKean County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $102,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks quieter than 88% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 75% of Pennsylvania towns, better for first-time buyers than 73% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Otto ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Otto is worth $102,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $53,214, which is more affordable than 91% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $640 a month. 91.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Otto | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $102,400 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $640 | $996 |
| Median household income | $53,214 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.2% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.2% | — |
Who lives in Otto
| People | Otto | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.1 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.6% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 31.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.7% | 89.0% |
Weather in Otto
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 13.1°F. About 40.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 64.7 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Otto since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 21, 1976.
Severe weather in McKean County since 1996
McKean County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 19, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1555: Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances |
Jobs and pay in McKean County
McKean County had 13,930 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,225 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Otto itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Otto
1 public school with 283 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otto-Eldred JSHS | 7-12 | 283 | 12.9 |
Towns near Otto
- Eldred, PA4.2 mi · 1,394 people · home $100,800
- Eldred, PA5.3 mi · 765 people · home $125,900
- Foster Brook, PA6.7 mi · 1,127 people · home $112,600
- Foster, PA7.0 mi · 4,038 people · home $99,200
- Keating, PA7.8 mi · 2,725 people · home $121,700
- Bradford, PA8.2 mi · 7,849 people · home $85,600
- Olean, NY8.6 mi · 1,881 people · home $158,600
- St. Bonaventure, NY9.3 mi · 1,963 people · home $125,300
Otto questions
Is Otto, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Otto scores better for retirees than 75% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 88%. 27.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.1).
How much does a house cost in Otto?
The median owner-occupied home in Otto is valued at $102,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,214, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $640 a month.
What is the weather like in Otto?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 13.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.7 inches of precipitation a year and 64.7 inches of snow.
Does Otto get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Otto in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)