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Owatonna, MN
City in Steele County, Minnesota.
Population
26,498
Land area
15.2sq mi
People per sq mi
1,747
ZIP codes
0
Owatonna and its ZIP codes
Owatonna at a glance
- Owatonna is about 24 times as dense as Minnesota as a whole.
- It is the 40th most populous of 914 cities and towns in Minnesota.
- Households here earn a median of $80,750 a year, 9% less than the Minnesota figure of $89,062.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $245,200 (26% below Minnesota) and median rent is $1,067 a month.
Local data for Owatonna, MN
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Owatonna, MN, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$80,750
Poverty rate
9.2%
Median home value
$245,200
Median rent
$1,067/mo
Homeownership
75.6%
Bachelor's or higher
29.3%
Median age
40.4
Average commute
17.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (7,840), Norwegian Americans (3,982), Irish Americans (2,305).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Steele County. PPP loans are for Owatonna.
Unemployment rate
5.6%
Aug 2026, +0.9 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$63,201
19,168 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$61,040
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$283M
FY 2026, $7,563 per person
How people get to work
Owatonna, MN, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone81.7%
- Carpooled5.8%
- Public transit1.2%
- Walked1.8%
- Bicycle0.3%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.0%
- Worked from home8.3%
Average one-way commute: 17.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Owatonna, MN, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: strong wind
Storm events since 1996
373
Countywide, mostly winter storm
Flood insurance policies
66
0.4% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 5°F
35.5 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone7 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Owatonna, MN, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.6%
U.S. 33.3% +4.3 pts
Diabetes
10.6%
U.S. 12.1% -1.5 pts
Smoking
14.4%
U.S. 12.8% +1.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.4%
U.S. 11.1% -2.7 pts
Cities near Owatonna
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| MedfordCity | 5 mi | 1.2 |
| ClaremontCity | 12 mi | 1.1 |
| WarsawCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 0.9 |
| FaribaultCity | 14 mi | 15.7 |
| MorristownCity | 14 mi | 1.1 |
| WasecaCity | 14 mi | 4.3 |
| West ConcordCity | 16 mi | 1.1 |
| EllendaleCity | 16 mi | 0.8 |
| KenyonCity | 17 mi | 2.3 |
| Blooming PrairieCity | 18 mi | 1.4 |
| NerstrandCity | 18 mi | 1.4 |
| Dodge CenterCity | 19 mi | 2.4 |
| GenevaCity | 20 mi | 0.5 |
| WatervilleCity | 20 mi | 1.7 |
| New RichlandCity | 20 mi | 0.6 |
| DundasCity | 23 mi | 1.8 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Owatonna, MN in?
- Owatonna is in Steele County, Minnesota.
- What is the population of Owatonna, MN?
- About 26,498 people live in Owatonna, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Owatonna?
- Nearby places include Medford (5 mi), Claremont (12 mi), Warsaw (13 mi), Faribault (14 mi), Morristown (14 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023