The Town FilesOtsego, Wisconsin
Town in Columbia County · population 670 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $371,900
- Household income
- $86,667
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 52.1
Otsego is a town of 670 people in Columbia County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $371,900, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks easier by car than 97% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 87% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 83% of Wisconsin towns.
How Otsego ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Otsego is worth $371,900, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $86,667, which is more affordable than 8% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,167 a month. 95.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Otsego | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $371,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,167 | $951 |
| Median household income | $86,667 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 95.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Otsego
| People | Otsego | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.1 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 11.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 29.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in Otsego
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 8.7°F. About 35.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.5 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 164 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Otsego since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 26, 1951 about 5.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 16 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 28, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 3, 2004.
Severe weather in Columbia County since 1996
Columbia County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 26, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1719: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Columbia County
Columbia County had 21,963 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,667 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Otsego itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Towns near Otsego
- Rio, WI4.0 mi · 1,119 people · home $196,100
- Hampden, WI5.3 mi · 581 people · home $367,900
- Lowville, WI6.4 mi · 1,017 people · home $348,800
- Springvale, WI6.7 mi · 539 people · home $338,200
- Fountain Prairie, WI6.9 mi · 938 people · home $406,900
- Fall River, WI7.5 mi · 1,801 people · home $243,700
- Leeds, WI8.0 mi · 755 people · home $332,700
- Columbus, WI8.0 mi · 626 people · home $355,300
Otsego questions
Is Otsego, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Otsego scores better for retirees than 48% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 83%. 27.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.1).
How much does a house cost in Otsego?
The median owner-occupied home in Otsego is valued at $371,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,667, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,167 a month.
What is the weather like in Otsego?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 8.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.5 inches of precipitation a year and 42.5 inches of snow.
Does Otsego get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Otsego since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 26, 1951. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)