Cost of Living in Otter Tail County compared to Peer counties

Embrace the Lifestyle of Otter Tail County

Otter Tail County, known for its tight-knit community, slower pace, and serene lake life, offers a unique and attractive lifestyle at a lower cost. Boasting the highest number of lakes of any county in the United States, excellent local schools, state-of-the-art healthcare, high-quality jobs, and a child-friendly atmosphere, Otter Tail County is an ideal place to live, work, and play. The natural beauty and sense of community make it a welcoming place for newcomers and a beloved home for residents.

Financial Advantages of Living in Otter Tail County

Spend Less and Enjoy More

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) provides yearly estimates of the basic-needs cost of living by county and region, considering family size and employment status. We looked at DEED’s 2023 data to see how cost of living in Otter Tail County compared to Minnesota counties similar in geographical size and population. According to the data, Otter Tail County not only offers a more enjoyable lifestyle, living here also makes financial sense.

For a family with two full-time workers and two children, the yearly cost of living in 2023 was $77,916 in Otter Tail County. It was $78,712 for Becker County, $80,901 for Crow Wing County, $82,208 for Itasca County, and $82,436 for Stearns County. Compared to these peer counties, that’s a $996-$4,520 per year savings. This means you could spend less and enjoy more of the countless recreational activities, community events, and natural beauty that Otter Tail County offers. For more information and comparisons of other family sizes and regions, check out the DEED Cost of Living Tool.

What about Income?

When considering whether to move to a county, it makes sense to not only consider the cost of living there, but to compare that to what incomes look like in that region. We have pulled DEED median income numbers for Otter Tail County and it’s peers, but you should use DEED’s Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages tool for look at average wages for your industry.

2023 Median Income Comparisons

Otter Tail: $67,990

Becker: $68,683

Crow Wing: $65,975

Itasca: $63,962

Stearns: $73,105

Keep in mind that these are median incomes across the county and do not reflect family size, while the Cost of Living data does. The Center for Rural Policy and Development produced an article titled “Wages can go further in Greater Minnesota,” where it was explained that wages should be viewed together with cost of living to tell how far that income can actually go. The method used in the article was to calculate median wages as a percent of cost of living.

2023 Median Income as a Percentage of Cost of Living

• Otter Tail: 87.3%
• Becker: 87.3%
• Crow Wing: 81.6%
• Itasca: 77.8%
• Stearns: 88.7%

These comparisons highlight the affordability of life in Otter Tail County, but they still don’t factor in the parts of living in OTC that you just can’t value in dollars. The natural beauty, the extensive opportunities for outdoor recreation, the time spent on leisure rather than a commute, a safe and child friendly environment, and the feeling of belonging and community are just the beginning of what Otter Tail County has to offer.

Ready to enjoy more at a lower cost? Read about how to make Otter Tail County your home.

Some of the content and ideas in this blog post may have been generated with or inspired by AI. A member of our staff has edited, altered and added to the content to ensure accuracy. This blend of AI and human creativity aims to provide you with engaging and innovative perspectives on the wonders of Otter Tail County, MN.