Otter Tail County Health Data

Otter Tail County, Minnesota

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

76/100

Excellent

Life Expectancy

78.9 yr

Uninsured Rate

6.6%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

78.9 yr

State avg 78.7 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

6.6%

State avg 6.0%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

53

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

162

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

17.4%

State avg 14.8%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Primary Care Physicians

26.5

per 100K residentsCDC: 53.3 per 100K

Dentists

11.6

per 100K residents

Nurse Practitioners & PAs

13.3

per 100K residents

Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.

Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health

These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where Otter Tail County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureOtter TailState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity34.4%37.0%37.6%2.6 pts better than state
Diabetes8.7%9.3%11.2%0.6 pts better than state
High Blood Pressure25.6%28.6%33.5%3.0 pts better than state
Depression25.4%25.3%24.1%near state average

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureOtter TailState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking15.9%15.7%16.3%near state average
Binge Drinking20.6%20.3%17.8%near state average
Physical Inactivity23.5%24.1%27.0%0.6 pts better than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureOtter TailState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup71.2%72.0%74.9%0.8 pts worse than state
Dental Visit (past year)60.3%64.7%57.3%4.4 pts worse than state
Mammography (women 50–74)81.0%77.1%73.3%3.9 pts better than state

Daily-life impact

MeasureOtter TailState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress17.1%17.0%18.6%near state average
Short Sleep Duration33.7%31.5%37.3%2.2 pts worse than state

These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Otter Tail County nationally on dental visit (past year).

Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.

Data Story

Primary Care Access in Otter Tail County Below National Median

Health data brief for Otter Tail County, Minnesota.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Primary care access

Otter Tail County has 53 primary care providers for every 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national median of 70. Mental health provider availability is also lower than national benchmarks, with 162 providers per 100,000 residents compared to the national median of 250. Life expectancy in the county is 78.9 years, which is slightly higher than the state average of 78.7 years and the national average of 77 years. The percentage of residents without health insurance is 6.6%, higher than the Minnesota average of 6.0% but lower than the 10% national rate. Additionally, 17.4% of residents report being in poor or fair health, which is slightly higher than the national average of 17%. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.

Get Care in Otter Tail County, Minnesota

Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.

Lake Region Healthcare Corporation

ER
4/5
(218) 736-8000
712 South Cascade Street, Fergus Falls, MN 56537
Acute Care HospitalsVoluntary non-profit - Private

Perham Health

ER
3/5
(218) 347-4500
1000 Coney Street West, Perham, MN 56573
Critical Access HospitalsGovernment - Hospital District or Authority

Community Behavioral Health Hospital Fergus Falls

Not rated by CMS
(218) 331-5005
1801 West Alcott Avenue, Fergus Falls, MN 56537
PsychiatricGovernment - State

Sources: Hospital data: CMS Care Compare. Quality ratings: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Community health center directory: HRSA. Last reviewed 2026-05-14.

Information is for general guidance only and is not medical advice. Always call ahead to confirm services, hours, and insurance accepted. In a medical emergency, dial 911.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the health ranking of Otter Tail County, MN?
Otter Tail County has a health score of 76/100, rated "Excellent." It ranks #69 out of 87 counties in Minnesota (1 = healthiest). The score is based on CDC County Health Rankings data, combining life expectancy, uninsured rates, provider access, and behavioral health indicators.
What is the life expectancy in Otter Tail County?
Life expectancy in Otter Tail County is 78.9 years. The Minnesota state average is 78.7 years, making Otter Tail County above the state average.
How does Otter Tail County health compare to the Minnesota average?
Otter Tail County's health score of 76/100 is below the Minnesota average of 83/100. Life expectancy is 78.9 years vs. the state average of 78.7 years. The uninsured rate is 6.6% vs. 6.0% statewide.
What health factors affect Otter Tail County?
Key health factors for Otter Tail County include: life expectancy (78.9 years), uninsured rate (6.6%), and primary care physician access (53:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 162:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Otter Tail County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 76/100 ("Excellent"), Otter Tail County is one of the healthier counties in Minnesota. Residents have a life expectancy of 78.9 years. 6.6% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
What are the biggest health challenges in Otter Tail County?
Otter Tail County's health score of 76/100 is below the Minnesota average of 83/100. Improving health outcomes often requires investment in healthcare infrastructure, insurance coverage expansion, and community health programs.

Counties with Similar Health Profile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Sources

Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.