Ottosen Iowa, 2010
Ottosen’s story
131 years in pictures
Census counts: 147 in 1910, a peak of 234 in 1920, 40 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and a map from 1980 on.
- 1895Ottosen is settled
OttosenIA
A town of 39, settled in 1895.
Photo: Brandonrush · Public domain
Population
39
2025 Census estimate · −2.5% since 2020
Median home value
$50K
Census ACS
Household income
$42K
median
Median age
53.8
years
Land area
1 sq mi
Is Ottosen a good place to live?
Ottosen’s median age is 53.8 years, above both Iowa’s towns (38.7 years) and U.S. towns (40.5 years). Of the 141 Iowa towns we compare, none has a lower median household income than Ottosen. Ottosen has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
39 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Ottosen: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Ottosen, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterOttosen Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Ottosen’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Iowa you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereHumboldt County AuditorHumboldt County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021
ZIP code5057050570 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Ottosen.
Climate
In Ottosen, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Ottosen has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 8° and about 39 inches of snow falls in a winter.
39″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter12–29°
Spring36–58°
Summer60–82°
Fall38–60°
Oct 6
typical first frost
Apr 30
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Ottosen is
Ottosen beats the Iowa average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9. 39% of Ottosen adults have high blood pressure, against 35% in Iowa’s towns and 35% across U.S. towns. 41% of adults have obesity in Ottosen.
| Ottosen | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 35% | 35% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 38% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 15% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 12% | 12% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
2 better21 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Ottosen | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults screened for colon cancer | 71.2% | 66.6% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81% | 77.8% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.7% | 6.6% |
Humboldt County Memorial Hospital
13.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Ottosen faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by drought
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 51% of U.S. communities.
49risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
DroughtInland floodingCold waves
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ottosen
15pages on Ottosen
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Ottosen; the nearest are
Iowa Central Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Fort Dodge29.5 mi$5,496 in-state tuitionIowa State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Ames70.7 mi$10,787 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Ottosen residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
About Ottosen
City in Iowa, USA
Ottosen is a city in Humboldt County, Iowa, United States. The population was 40 in the 2020 census, a decline from 61 in 2000.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1906
- Area
- 0.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,158 ft
- ZIP code
- 50570
Questions about Ottosen
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Ottosen, IA a good place to live?
Ottosen has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.