Bluffton MN downtown, 2013
Bluffton’s story
148 years in pictures
Census counts: 69 in 1880, 210 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 2 maps from 1969 on.
- 1878Bluffton is settled
BlufftonMN
A town of 212, settled in 1878.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
212
2025 Census estimate · +0% since 2020
Median home value
$182K
Census ACS
Household income
$100K
median
Median age
24.8
years
Jobs based here
34
A commuter town
Is Bluffton a good place to live?
Bluffton’s median age is 24.8 years, against 39.9 years in Minnesota’s towns and 40.5 years across U.S. towns. Only 7 of the 274 Minnesota towns we compare have a lower share of working residents who work in town than Bluffton. Bluffton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
212 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Bluffton TownshipBluffton
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Bluffton: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Bluffton, and how to reach them.
PowerTodd-Wadena Electric CoopEIAHIFLD · EIA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Bluffton’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Minnesota you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereOtter Tail County Government Services CenterOtter Tail County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP codes56518, 5648256518 95% · 56482 5%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 Bluffton.
Work & commute
Bluffton has 0.4 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Bluffton for work: only 1% work in town. Bluffton’s average trip to work is 19 minutes, where Minnesota’s towns sit at 23 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. 2.3% of Bluffton residents live below the poverty line.
1%work in town
| Bluffton | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 19 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 2.3% | 7% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $100,000 | $90,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Bluffton1%
Perham22%
New York Mills13%
Detroit Lakes11%
Wadena10%
19 mi
median commute distance
34
jobs based in Bluffton
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
In Bluffton, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
Bluffton has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Bluffton is 80°F.
51″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter3–22°
Spring30–52°
Summer56–78°
Fall35–54°
Sep 30
typical first frost
May 10
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
Compared with most of Minnesota and the rest of the country, fewer of Bluffton’s adults had a checkup this year
70% of adults had a checkup this year in Bluffton. Bluffton beats the Minnesota average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 8. 22% of adults binge drink in Bluffton.
| Bluffton | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 18% | 16% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 70% | 75% | 79% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 31% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 14% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
3 better21 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Bluffton | MN |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with high blood pressure | 25% | 31% |
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 7% | 8.5% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 21.5% | 8.9% |
Astera Health
3.9 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Bluffton
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 52% of U.S. communities.
48risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Housing
A home in Bluffton sells for about $237K at the median
Bluffton’s median rent is $825 a month.
$237Kmedian sale price
| Bluffton | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $825 a month | $1,196 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 83% | 75% | 73% |
1
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Bluffton
15pages on Bluffton
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Bluffton; the nearest are
Alexandria Technical & Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Alexandria41.7 mi$6,236 in-state tuitionUniversity of Minnesota-MorrisUniversity or college · Public · Morris68.7 mi$14,526 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Bluffton residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Minnesota.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Bluffton for work
Where Bluffton’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
34jobs based in Bluffton
1%of working residents work in town
19 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Bluffton
City in Minnesota, United States
Bluffton is a city in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States, along the Leaf River. The population was 210 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,362 ft
- ZIP code
- 56518
- Area code
- 218
Questions about Bluffton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Bluffton, MN a good place to live?
Bluffton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.