Otter Tail County, Minnesota Property Taxes

Name: Property Tax Bills Across Otter Tail County, Minnesota
Creator: Ownwell
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Median Otter Tail County effective property tax rate: 0.74%, significantly lower than the national median of 1.02%.
Median Otter Tail County home value: $204,500
Median annual Otter Tail County tax bill: $1,674, $726 lower than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.

How are property taxes in Otter Tail County calculated?

Property taxes in Otter Tail County are calculated based on the tax assessed value, which is often lower than the actual market value due to property tax exemptions such as the homestead or senior exemption.

Understanding your county's property tax system, exemptions, and reduction opportunities can lead to significant savings. Whether you live in Fergus Falls or another part of Otter Tail County, knowing local tax details benefits homeowners and investors.

Last Updated March 1, 2025

Otter Tail County, Minnesota Property Tax Bill Calculator

Property Assessed Value

$100,000

$1,500,000

$3,000,000

Median Effective Tax Rate

0.74%

Estimate Property Tax Bill

$1,513

$1,404

Ownwell’s Otter Tail County Property Tax Bill Calculator empowers homeowners, real estate investors, and potential buyers to estimate their annual property taxes in Otter Tail County with just two data points. By entering your property's estimated assessed value, our calculator applies Otter Tail County’s median effective tax rate to accurately estimate your property tax bill. Note that your property's assessed value — determined by your county — reflects any exemptions you may have, ensuring a more precise calculation for your property tax obligations. This insightful tool helps you understand potential tax liabilities and highlights how Ownwell can assist in reducing property taxes in Otter Tail County. For those interested in more localized information, please scroll down to explore city-level trends!

Property Tax Rates Across Otter Tail County, Minnesota

Local government entities in Minnesota set tax rates, which can vary widely within the state. Each year, counties estimate their required budget to provide services and divide that by the total value of all taxable property within their jurisdiction. This calculation results in the property tax rate. Although votes and laws play a role in setting tax rates and budgets, this is the annual process in a nutshell.

In Otter Tail County, the effective property tax rate is 0.74%, which is lower than the national median of 1.02%. This means residents here pay less in property taxes compared to many other parts of the country. Within the county, Fergus Falls has the highest median tax rate at 1.05%, while Evansville enjoys the lowest at 0.56%. For property owners, understanding these differences is crucial for financial planning and making informed decisions about property investments. Comparing Otter Tail County's tax rate to the U.S. median provides valuable insight into how local rates measure up on a national scale.

Property Tax Rates Across Otter Tail County, Minnesota

Source: Ownwell

0.56%

0.81%

1.05%

Our median effective property tax rate (tax bill ÷ assessor's market value) accounts for exemptions and deductions, making it more accurate than the general median tax rate, which is the midpoint of statutory rates before adjustments.

Median Effective Otter Tail County Tax Rate

0.74%

Median Effective Minnesota Tax Rate

1.11%

Median Effective United States Tax Rate

1.02%

Property Tax Rates Across Otter Tail County, Minnesota

City	10th Percentile	25th Percentile	Median Tax Rate	75th Percentile	90th Percentile
Ashby	0.39%	0.55%	0.75%	0.89%	0.93%
Barnesville	0.38%	0.49%	0.70%	0.74%	0.75%
Battle Lake	0.52%	0.56%	0.62%	0.69%	1.00%
Bertha	0.24%	0.35%	0.63%	0.79%	0.87%
Bluffton	0.33%	0.57%	0.88%	1.07%	1.16%
Brandon	0.26%	0.56%	0.79%	0.92%	0.96%
Campbell	0.32%	0.47%	0.63%	0.77%	0.97%
Clitherall	0.53%	0.59%	0.63%	0.67%	0.71%
Dalton	0.56%	0.68%	0.76%	0.93%	1.24%
Deer Creek	0.39%	0.61%	0.76%	0.97%	1.22%
Dent	0.64%	0.67%	0.72%	0.75%	0.79%
Detroit Lakes	0.62%	0.66%	0.71%	0.76%	0.80%
Eagle Bend	0.37%	0.42%	0.69%	0.81%	0.91%
Elizabeth	0.53%	0.71%	0.87%	1.07%	1.25%
Erhard	0.43%	0.63%	0.69%	0.76%	0.87%
Evansville	0.32%	0.48%	0.56%	0.61%	0.78%
Fergus Falls	0.70%	0.77%	1.05%	1.18%	1.23%
Frazee	0.65%	0.71%	0.74%	0.77%	0.85%
Henning	0.51%	0.60%	0.66%	0.77%	1.06%
Hewitt	0.31%	0.39%	0.63%	0.77%	0.82%
Menahga	0.34%	0.39%	0.72%	0.89%	0.95%
New York Mills	0.44%	0.71%	0.86%	1.23%	1.51%
Ottertail	0.61%	0.66%	0.72%	0.85%	0.94%
Parkers Prairie	0.44%	0.71%	0.83%	1.45%	1.67%
Pelican Rapids	0.63%	0.69%	0.74%	0.80%	1.25%
Perham	0.63%	0.70%	0.77%	1.02%	1.13%
Richville	0.53%	0.60%	0.66%	0.74%	0.78%
Rothsay	0.37%	0.70%	0.90%	1.75%	1.98%
Sebeka	0.31%	0.42%	0.70%	0.83%	0.92%
Underwood	0.53%	0.62%	0.73%	0.82%	0.95%
Vergas	0.62%	0.68%	0.73%	0.77%	1.15%
Vining	0.38%	0.58%	0.67%	0.74%	0.81%
Wadena	0.34%	0.59%	0.76%	0.79%	0.85%
Elbow Lake	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Miltona	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Wendell	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Source: Ownwell

Property Tax Assessment Values Across Otter Tail County, Minnesota

When examining property taxes in Otter Tail County, understanding the distinction between "market value" and "assessed value" is crucial. The market value is what a willing buyer would pay to a willing seller in an open and competitive market, often influenced by location, property condition, and economic market trends. The Otter Tail County Assessor's Office estimates the market value for tax purposes. The assessed value is the market value minus any applicable exemptions or limits determined by local laws and offerings. The tax assessed value is the figure used to calculate your property taxes or the amount multiplied by your tax rate to get your tax bill.

Assessment notices: In Otter Tail County, assessment notices are sent in the spring each year. They’ll typically reach your mailbox by the middle of April. Each property owner receives an assessment notice that contains both the market value and assessed value, along with an estimate of your property tax bill. By providing insights into how assessed and market values are determined, this section helps property owners navigate their tax responsibilities and understand the valuation processes affecting their property taxes in Otter Tail County. For example, the median tax bill in Otter Tail County is $2045, with tax bills ranging significantly across the county. Detroit Lakes has the highest median home price at $404,400.

Property Tax Assessment Values Across Otter Tail County, Minnesota

Source: Ownwell

$143,950

$274,175

$404,400

Median Otter Tail County Market Value

$204,500

Median Minnesota Market Value

$290,400

Median United States Market Value

$235,294

Property Tax Assessment Values Across Otter Tail County, Minnesota

City	10th Percentile	25th Percentile	Median Home Price	75th Percentile	90th Percentile
Ashby	$122,440	$188,400	$266,500	$418,600	$601,080
Barnesville	$128,700	$157,450	$230,300	$297,500	$511,600
Battle Lake	$25,040	$106,250	$279,800	$475,850	$682,160
Bertha	$90,730	$173,375	$284,350	$383,475	$540,340
Bluffton	$43,560	$93,500	$166,000	$293,700	$523,540
Brandon	$129,630	$180,600	$300,100	$441,350	$541,470
Campbell	$174,400	$229,750	$288,700	$536,925	$1,029,300
Clitherall	$29,900	$113,300	$274,100	$493,000	$678,800
Dalton	$25,600	$70,375	$174,850	$342,625	$489,750
Deer Creek	$29,950	$84,750	$160,100	$293,075	$418,650
Dent	$23,330	$88,325	$224,050	$367,500	$521,570
Detroit Lakes	$33,220	$113,300	$404,400	$713,850	$1,035,020
Eagle Bend	$94,550	$165,850	$281,950	$417,500	$551,240
Elizabeth	$14,340	$62,800	$143,950	$253,550	$400,800
Erhard	$44,600	$110,250	$215,700	$339,050	$464,800
Evansville	$51,740	$129,000	$233,700	$380,100	$486,460
Fergus Falls	$29,200	$105,000	$171,600	$277,600	$408,800
Frazee	$36,560	$148,350	$311,000	$471,850	$641,940
Henning	$34,260	$91,175	$184,500	$329,600	$500,050
Hewitt	$86,860	$134,700	$249,600	$361,300	$521,660
Menahga	$140,500	$185,750	$264,300	$407,050	$536,340
New York Mills	$45,000	$104,950	$189,100	$284,600	$434,400
Ottertail	$16,680	$71,850	$199,100	$369,575	$554,460
Parkers Prairie	$47,880	$98,400	$165,800	$284,900	$446,600
Pelican Rapids	$21,740	$94,200	$232,800	$432,900	$640,560
Perham	$23,700	$127,200	$234,100	$378,000	$527,100
Richville	$26,260	$86,550	$241,000	$425,850	$675,960
Rothsay	$50,500	$102,300	$176,800	$323,000	$733,200
Sebeka	$76,040	$146,500	$236,300	$356,400	$515,100
Underwood	$29,540	$88,375	$193,550	$335,875	$477,660
Vergas	$32,060	$128,500	$261,700	$428,200	$585,500
Vining	$32,400	$131,525	$261,200	$397,500	$528,100
Wadena	$87,280	$160,500	$224,300	$317,900	$443,140
Elbow Lake	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Miltona	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Wendell	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Source: Ownwell

Property Tax Bills Across Otter Tail County, Minnesota

In Otter Tail County, MN, property tax bills are determined by assessing the market value of a home and applying the local tax rate. The median home price in this region is $204,500, which is used as a basis for calculating the tax bill. Homeowners can expect to pay a tax bill that varies significantly depending on their property's assessed value and location within the county. For instance, the tax bill at the 25th percentile is $788, whereas it rises to $2,728 at the 75th percentile and reaches $3,994 at the 90th percentile. This variation highlights the influence of property value and local tax rates on tax bills. In Detroit Lakes, the highest median tax bill reaches $2,829, while Evansville has the lowest at $1,182. Compared to the national median property tax bill of $2,400, Otter Tail County offers a diverse range of tax obligations. Understanding these factors helps homeowners anticipate their financial commitments and plan accordingly.

Property Tax Bills Across Otter Tail County, Minnesota

Source: Ownwell

$1,182

$2,006

$2,829

Median Otter Tail County Tax Bill

$1,674

Median Minnesota Tax Bill

$3,182

Median United States Tax Bill

$2,400

Property Tax Bills Across Otter Tail County, Minnesota

City	10th Percentile	25th Percentile	Median Tax Bill	75th Percentile	90th Percentile
Ashby	$836	$1,336	$2,016	$2,606	$3,522
Barnesville	$862	$1,058	$1,316	$2,145	$2,372
Battle Lake	$148	$712	$1,862	$2,998	$4,523
Bertha	$512	$913	$1,498	$2,038	$2,471
Bluffton	$464	$842	$1,376	$2,033	$2,680
Brandon	$1,183	$1,506	$1,804	$2,796	$3,353
Campbell	$1,146	$1,464	$1,936	$2,748	$3,338
Clitherall	$224	$691	$1,648	$3,004	$4,314
Dalton	$238	$709	$1,438	$2,457	$3,582
Deer Creek	$379	$726	$1,208	$1,810	$2,504
Dent	$184	$622	$1,558	$2,597	$3,722
Detroit Lakes	$213	$757	$2,829	$5,400	$7,992
Eagle Bend	$641	$1,013	$1,507	$2,048	$3,668
Elizabeth	$202	$560	$1,218	$1,960	$2,628
Erhard	$326	$724	$1,395	$2,152	$2,950
Evansville	$280	$564	$1,182	$1,710	$2,530
Fergus Falls	$358	$1,074	$1,708	$2,606	$3,688
Frazee	$268	$1,028	$2,250	$3,472	$4,933
Henning	$240	$736	$1,287	$2,108	$3,156
Hewitt	$597	$847	$1,256	$1,832	$2,386
Menahga	$812	$1,152	$1,792	$2,346	$2,705
New York Mills	$425	$990	$1,675	$2,388	$3,223
Ottertail	$136	$500	$1,474	$2,742	$4,194
Parkers Prairie	$400	$990	$1,676	$2,443	$3,241
Pelican Rapids	$190	$834	$1,912	$3,202	$4,874
Perham	$240	$1,144	$2,092	$3,046	$4,057
Richville	$162	$545	$1,559	$2,849	$4,597
Rothsay	$403	$1,133	$1,933	$2,809	$3,690
Sebeka	$530	$992	$1,398	$1,982	$2,659
Underwood	$225	$644	$1,382	$2,346	$3,220
Vergas	$251	$950	$1,912	$3,125	$4,363
Vining	$232	$754	$1,522	$2,338	$3,355
Wadena	$438	$998	$1,522	$2,179	$2,920
Elbow Lake	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Miltona	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Wendell	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Source: Ownwell