Population 9,947 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Otsego
Household size in Otsego
| Period | Otsego | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.53 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.52 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.56 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.62 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.09 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Otsego average 2.62 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in Michigan overall, where it has 2.51 people. Household size has climbed from 2.53 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Otsego
| Period | Otsego | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.6 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.4 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.2 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.8 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.2 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Otsego is 41.8 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. Michigan as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.6, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Otsego
| Period | Otsego | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.5% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.4% of households in Otsego, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 2.9 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Otsego
Renters in Otsego
| Period | Otsego | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.6% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.1% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.5% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.7% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Otsego is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 39.0% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share is down 2.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Otsego
| Period | Otsego | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.7% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.9% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Otsego is close to the national rate: 8.9% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Vacancy has risen 2.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Otsego
| Period | Otsego | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +3 | +6 |
The housing in Otsego is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1966, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1963 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the east has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Otsego
| Period | Otsego | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $580 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $637 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $751 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,177 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$597 | +$395 | +$606 |
The median renter in Otsego pays $1,177 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $597 a month since 2006–10, up 103%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 28.8% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the south; the most affordable are in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Otsego
Bachelor's degrees in Otsego
| Period | Otsego | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.0% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.0% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.5% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.3% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Otsego: 20.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 7.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the southeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Otsego
| Period | Otsego | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.2% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.5% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.3% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.8% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Otsego is a bit above the national rate: 91.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Michigan. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 1.6 points, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Otsego
| Period | Otsego | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.2% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.0% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.8 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Otsego has been strong: just 2.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only 13 of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 6.8 points, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Otsego compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otsego | 2.62 | 41.8 | 7.4% | 18.7% | 8.9% | 1966 | $1,177 | 20.3% | 91.8% | 2.0% |
| Plainwell | 2.42 | 46.2 | 11.2% | 20.8% | 8.1% | 1976 | $1,124 | 26.3% | 94.1% | 5.0% |
| Watson | 2.80 | 42.2 | 12.6% | 6.5% | 10.0% | 1978 | $780 | 17.1% | 93.8% | 1.3% |
| Mentha | 2.53 | 53.3 | 1.4% | 2.1% | 3.7% | 1981 | $1,302 | 28.3% | 97.7% | 1.5% |
| Orangeville | 2.49 | 46.4 | 5.0% | 4.2% | 3.2% | 1983 | $926 | 38.6% | 97.2% | 3.5% |
| Martin | 2.69 | 39.8 | 11.2% | 11.3% | 7.5% | 1975 | $873 | 14.7% | 94.3% | 4.5% |
| Merson | 2.48 | 48.1 | 10.4% | 7.3% | 13.9% | 1973 | $1,275 | 15.5% | 90.6% | 3.2% |
| Kendall | 2.84 | 39.6 | 6.4% | 8.6% | 11.6% | 1982 | $990 | 20.3% | 97.2% | 2.9% |
| Hooper | 2.67 | 43.4 | 6.9% | 14.1% | 9.1% | 1978 | $946 | 11.7% | 89.1% | 6.2% |
| Allegan | 2.61 | 40.5 | 12.4% | 16.8% | 9.5% | 1971 | $1,195 | 18.5% | 92.7% | 3.2% |
| Cheshire Center | 2.58 | 41.0 | 13.4% | 16.6% | 17.7% | 1981 | $1,262 | 15.6% | 91.9% | 5.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Madeira, OH · Little Ferry, NJ · Littleton, MA · Abbeville, SC · Lizella, GA · Long Grove, IL · Lonoke, AR · Ludowici, GA · Luray, VA · Lusby, MD
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Otsego. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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