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Living in
Owatonna.
About
Life in Owatonna
If you're considering Owatonna, know that you're looking at a solid Midwestern town with genuine economic stability—this isn't a place struggling to find its footing. The job market is genuinely diverse, anchored by Federated Insurance and Viracon, plus Bosch, Jostens, and other manufacturers, which means you're not dependent on one industry. The unemployment rate sits at 4.7%, which is legitimately low.
Owatonna at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.2%
Foreign-Born
4.7%
Broadband Internet
87.9%
of households
Population Growth
+0.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Owatonna: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Owatonna, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (50.9%), and 4.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.9%
of residents
65 and Older
19.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.3%
of households
Married Couples
50.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.36
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 17% below MN average
Rent, home values, and income in Owatonna
In Owatonna, rent runs 17% below the MN average, and home values are 26% below the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
61.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.2%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$3,222
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
75.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1978
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $295,050 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts above MN average
Unemployment in Owatonna
Unemployment in Owatonna is 0.8 percentage points higher than the MN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Owatonna Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.7 min avg
How Owatonna residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Owatonna, most residents drive alone to work (82%), and 80% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 38 mi
Rochester International Airport (RST)
Regional airport · few flights105k passengers boarded in 2025
- 55 mi
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Major hub17.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 35% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Owatonna runs 35% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
213.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
625.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Owatonna Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
37.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Steele County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Steele County, which includes Owatonna, the most common type is winter storm, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Blizzard | None reported |
| 2024 | 11 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2023 | 9 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 12 | Hail | None reported |
| 2021 | 11 | High Wind | $110,000 |
| 2020 | 8 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2019 | 14 | Winter Storm | $1,000 |
| 2018 | 10 | Winter Storm | $100 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Steele County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Goodhue County, MN (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 34 miles from Owatonna) is typically good — 214 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
214
per year
Moderate Days
25
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Goodhue County, MN (34 mi away)
Climate80°F summers, 9°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Owatonna has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 9°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
54°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
58°/38°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
26°/9°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.5"
Annual Snowfall
44.2"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
160
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
105
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22°F | 5°F | 0.87" |
| Feb | 27°F | 9°F | 0.89" |
| Mar | 40°F | 22°F | 1.99" |
| Apr | 55°F | 34°F | 3.18" |
| May | 68°F | 47°F | 4.61" |
| Jun | 78°F | 58°F | 5.28" |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 4.79" |
| Aug | 79°F | 60°F | 4.84" |
| Sep | 73°F | 51°F | 3.80" |
| Oct | 59°F | 38°F | 2.48" |
| Nov | 42°F | 25°F | 1.65" |
| Dec | 28°F | 13°F | 1.08" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Owatonna
Owatonna has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Owatonna Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Allina Health Faribault Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.6 mi away · Faribault
Mayo Clinic Health System - Waseca
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 13.8 mi away · Waseca
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Owatonna
Owatonna's student/teacher ratio is 15.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 29.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 59 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Owatonna
Owatonna has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (59 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
59 mi awayPublic Libraries in Owatonna
Owatonna Public Library
105 N Elm Avenue, Owatonna
Cities Near Owatonna
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Owatonna?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Owatonna FAQ
Is Owatonna, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Owatonna's median rent is $1,067/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $80,750/year. Median home value is $245,200.
Is Owatonna, Minnesota safe?⌄
Owatonna's violent crime rate was 214 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 626 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Owatonna, Minnesota?⌄
Owatonna has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Owatonna, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Owatonna is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,067/month and median household income is $80,750/year. The median home value is $245,200. About 61% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Owatonna, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Owatonna is 18 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from