Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Otter Lake’s average trip to work is 36 minutes, where Michigan’s towns sit at 25 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. Only 2 of the 702 Michigan towns we compare have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Otter Lake. 35% of the land in Otter Lake is conserved, where Michigan’s towns sit at 4.4% and U.S. towns at 4.3%. Otter Lake has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Otter Lake beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 243 in 1890, 426 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 3 maps from 1963 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Otter Lake, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
Ordered by what stands out in Otter Lake.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Otter Lake Village Park and Campground | — | 8 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Most working residents leave Otter Lake for work: only 1% work in town. The median household income in Otter Lake is $43,000. The top destinations are Lapeer (15%), Auburn Hills (5%) and Flint (5%).
| Otter Lake | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $43,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 8.9% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 0.6% | 5.9% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 75% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Otter Lake has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Otter Lake’s July high is 82°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
| Otter Lake | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 18% | 17% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 27% | 23% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 37% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 32% | 33% |
| What stands out | Otter Lake | MI |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 14.5% | 10.2% |
| Fewer adults getting cholesterol checked | 85.3% | 87.4% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
The typical Otter Lake home is worth about $232,000, up 6.3% in a year, 12% below the Michigan typical home. 92% of households own their home in Otter Lake.
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Otter Lake. Close and well known come first.
35 mi MuseumUSS Edson
17 mi MuseumSloan Museum13 mi MuseumCrossroads Village (Michigan)
17 mi MuseumFlint Institute of Arts
35 mi MuseumSaginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum28 mi Zoo & aquariumChildren's Zoo at Celebration SquareUSS Edson: U.S. Navy, Public domain · Sloan Museum: Amancour, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Flint Institute of Arts: Blueskiesfalling at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum: John McCullough, CC BY-SA 2.5
None within 15 miles of Otter Lake; the nearest are
About 2 of every 100 Otter Lake residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.
Where Otter Lake’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2021
Village in Michigan, United States
Otter Lake is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. The village is split between Marathon Township in Lapeer County to the east and Forest Township in Genesee County to the west. The population was 426 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Otter Lake has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
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