What a Otsego house pays
Property tax, water, trash and energy from public rates. Look up your address to make it yours, and see how to pay less.
Sent only to free public map services to find who serves it. Not stored unless you save your house.
Starts at $402,500 of value before exemptions. Typical use.
- Property tax$4,412
1.334% of $402,500, less $10,325 homestead market value exclusion and less $500,000 for class 1a residential homestead property, the 1.25% class rate applies only to market value above $500,000
- Electricity and gas$2,532
896.82 kWh a month $1,648 · 61.79 therms $884
- Water and sewer$1,226
7,000 gallons a month on City of Otsego: water $28, sewer $75 a month
- TrashNot included
The City lists garbage haulers; no hauler price is included in the totals
- Home insurance$1,774
Typical premium $1,774
A typical Otsego house pays about $9,900 a year: $4,410 property tax and charges, $1,230 water and sewer, $2,530 electricity and gas, $1,770 home insurance; trash is billed separately. Estimated from public rates, not anyone's actual bill.
Rates checked Oct 21, 2026. Insurance: what you enter, or a typical premium until you do. Sources are listed at the bottom.
Ways to pay less
Nothing here applies to every house automatically. These are worth checking:
Apply for homestead by December 31
If you move into a home and apply by December 31, you may qualify for homestead classification for the next year's taxes. The homestead market value exclusion is 40% of value for homesteads valued at $95,000 or less (a maximum of $38,000), is reduced as values rise, and phases out at $517,200 or more.
How: Apply with the Wright County Assessor; once homestead is granted, there is no need to apply again as long as the property is owned by the same party.
Claim the Minnesota property tax refund
Minnesota homeowners may get a Property Tax Refund based on income and property taxes.
How: File with the Minnesota Department of Revenue by August 15 (you may file up to one year late).
Seniors 65+: defer part of your property tax
With the Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral, the tax you pay is 3% of household income and the state pays the rest as a loan, repaid with interest when you sell or cancel.
How: You must be 65 or older (if married, the other spouse at least 62) with household income of $96,000 or less; apply by November 1.
Veterans with a 70%+ disability rating: market value exclusionUp to $150,000 or $300,000 off market value
Up to $150,000 of market value is excluded for honorably discharged veterans with a 70% or higher service-connected disability rating, and up to $300,000 for a 100% permanent and total rating.
How: Own and occupy the homestead by December 31 and submit an initial application to your county assessor's office by December 31.
Wright-Hennepin water heater credit: $10 a month$10 a month bill credit
Under Wright-Hennepin's Quick Cash Water Heating program you pay the regular rate and get a $10 monthly bill credit for each month you participate, in exchange for letting the cooperative control your water heater for up to 16 hours daily.
How: For Wright-Hennepin members; you may be asked to sign an agreement with the cooperative.
Free yard waste drop-off
Otsego residents may dispose of yard waste free of charge at the Albertville Compost Site and the Wright County Recycling Center.
How: The Albertville Compost Site is off Maciver Avenue, about 1/2 mile north of CSAH 137/60th Street (between 63rd and 65th Street).
LIHEAP households: CenterPoint Gas Affordability Program
Residential customers who receive LIHEAP energy assistance and agree to a levelized payment plan and a payment schedule can get an affordability credit and arrearage forgiveness.
How: The program is available to residential customers qualified for and receiving LIHEAP assistance.
Money dates
- Nov 1in 9 daysApply for the Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral to defer next year's taxes
- Dec 31in 69 daysIf you move into a home: apply for homestead with Wright County by Dec 31 to qualify for next year's taxes
- Dec 31in 69 daysApply for the disabled veterans' market value exclusion with the county assessor
- May 15First half of Wright County real estate taxes due (postmarked by the 15th)
Who serves this house
- Water
- City of Otsego
- City of Otsego 2026 residential water rates, in effect from the March 2026 billing; statements are sent monthly
- Property tax
- 1.33% of value
- 2026 taxes payable, Wright County (Otsego tax district 3001, ISD 728)
- Garbage
- Private haulers
- The City lists four garbage haulers: Ace Solid Waste, Curbside Waste, Republic Services and Waste Management
- Sewer
- City of Otsego
- The City runs two wastewater treatment facilities (East, 2000; West, 2004); sewer rates are based on December–February water use
- Electricity
- Wright-Hennepin, Xcel Energy or Elk River Municipal Utilities
- The City lists Northern States Power Company (Xcel Energy), Elk River Municipal Utilities and Wright-Hennepin as its electric utility companies
- Gas
- CenterPoint Energy
- CenterPoint Energy is the natural gas utility the City lists; Otsego is on CenterPoint's list of Minnesota communities served
Your water
- Source
- Groundwater from seven wells, 270 to 494 feet deep, in the Mt. Simon, Mt. Simon-Hinckley and Tunnel City-Wonewoc aquifers
- Radium
- Combined radium was above the limit (MCL) during 2025 (highest 6 pCi/l; limit 5 pCi/l); the City limits pumping from the wells with elevated levels under an Agreement with MDH, so no violation was issued
- Manganese
- Manganese above Minnesota health guidance values: highest 698 ppb against a 100 ppb comparison value (2021 testing)
- Hardness and lead
- Average hardness 15 grains per gallon; lead at customer taps (2023): 90th-percentile result 0.99 ppb, 0 of 30 homes with high levels
Not every Otsego home is on City water and sewer. City water utilities serve more than 5,000 customers, while Wright County parcel data lists 7,343 homesteaded single-unit residential parcels in Otsego, and some single-family areas are one-acre lots with private wells and septic systems. Homes on a private well or septic system pay no City water or sewer charge: take those off the totals.
Other MN cities
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How these numbers are made
- Water: City of Otsego 2026 rates (approved February 2026, in effect from the March 2026 billing; statements are monthly): the $9.19 base rate for a 5/8" or 3/4" meter, then $2.56 per 1,000 gallons up to 5,000 gallons, $3.20 to 15,000, $4.00 to 35,000 and $5.00 above. The City publishes no typical household use, so the page starts at 9 CCF (about 6,700 gallons) a month.
- Sewer: $18.12 a month plus $9.64 per 1,000 gallons. Otsego bills the usage part on your average December–February water use, set each March, not on the month's use, so the calculator charges it on the lower of the use you enter and 5,860 gallons a month: the City's Wastewater Master Plan (2018, Table 3.2.3) uses an average dry-weather flow of 66 gallons per person per day, and the 2023 Comprehensive Plan gives 2.96 persons per household (2020), so 66 x 2.96 x 30 = about 5,860 gallons a month. That planning flow stands in for a typical home's winter water use, which the City does not publish; enter your own December–February average to see your sewer charge. Not every home is on City utilities: the City's water system has about 5,600 service connections (EPA) and more than 5,000 customers against 7,343 homesteaded single-family parcels, and older and rural lots use private wells and septic systems; homes on a well or septic system should subtract water or sewer. Otsego also has an annual storm water utility fee per lot or unit that depends on the zoning district ($17.96 to $46.91 a year for single-family lots in residential districts, for lots final platted after November 15, 1990); it is not included because the district varies by home.
- Garbage: the City's Compost & Garbage page lists four garbage haulers and the City publishes no garbage rate, so no trash price is included.
- Property tax: Wright County's 2026 final rates for Otsego tax district 3001 (ISD 728, Elk River Area Schools), which holds about 88% of Otsego's referendum market value: 86.353845% of tax capacity (county 35.187452%, city 26.664393%, ISD 728 24.502000%) plus 0.254770% of market value for ISD 728 referendums. The homestead market value exclusion comes off the tax-capacity parts; a further 0.25% x 86.353845% is added on value above $500,000 (1.25% class rate). The starting value is the City's median appraised value of a single-family home for taxes payable 2026 ($402,500, from the 2026 budget); at that value the tax is about $4,410. Homes in district 3003 (ISD 885, St. Michael-Albertville) pay 98.382888% plus 0.197089%, and district 3002 (ISD 882, Monticello) pays 74.784445% plus 0.233004%. Some homes also pay assessments for street or utility projects on the tax bill; those are not included.
- Electricity: in the state's electric utility service area map, about 76% of Otsego's homesteaded single-family parcels (5,670 of 7,466 parcel-area matches) fall in Wright-Hennepin's area, 12% in Elk River Municipal Utilities' and 12% in Xcel Energy's. Wright-Hennepin figures: the $22.40 basic charge plus the City's $4 monthly residential electric franchise fee ($26.40); per kWh, Wright-Hennepin's 2024 average residential revenue (EIA) less the $19.90 basic charge then in effect, 12.37 cents, which covers the energy rate and Power Cost Adjustment of that year (the published 2026 energy rate is 11.295 cents plus the monthly PCA). Typical use: about 897 kWh a month, Wright-Hennepin's 2024 residential sales per customer (EIA). Homes served by Xcel Energy or Elk River Municipal Utilities pay those utilities' rates (plus the same $4 franchise fee).
- Gas: CenterPoint Energy's $9.50 basic charge plus the $4.00 Otsego residential franchise fee in CenterPoint's tariff ($13.50); per therm, the delivery charge plus the tariff's cost of gas, revenue decoupling and Natural Gas Innovation Act charges ($0.97366); the cost of gas changes monthly. Typical gas use is Minnesota's 2024 residential average (EIA), about 62 therms a month. Insurance: the 2022 NAIC statewide average premium for Minnesota (HO-3) until you enter your own. Sales tax is not included.
- Nothing here is legal, tax or insurance advice.
- City of Otsego: 2026 utility rates
- City of Otsego: Utility billing
- City of Otsego: 2026 fee schedule (Ordinance 2025-12)
- City of Otsego: Franchise fees
- City of Otsego: Compost & garbage
- City of Otsego: 2025 Drinking Water Report (CCR)
- City of Otsego: Water hardness
- City of Otsego: Municipal wastewater
- City of Otsego: 2023 Comprehensive Plan
- EPA: community water system boundaries (Otsego, MN1860026)
- Wright County: 2026 final tax rates
- Wright County: 2026 tax capacities and referendum market values
- Wright County parcel data (state compilation): Otsego median 2026 value of homesteaded single-unit parcels
- Wright County Assessor
- Wright County: Applying for homestead
- Wright County: Property tax due dates
- Wright County: Property tax penalties
- Wright County: Homestead exclusion for veterans with a disability (fact sheet)
- Minnesota Department of Revenue: Module 3, Classification of Property
- Minnesota Department of Revenue: Homestead Market Value Exclusion
- Minnesota Department of Revenue: Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral
- Minnesota Department of Revenue: Property Tax Refund
- Minnesota Department of Revenue: Filing for a Property Tax Refund
- Minnesota Geospatial Commons: electric utility service areas
- Wright-Hennepin: Rates
- Wright-Hennepin: 2026 rate change FAQ
- Wright-Hennepin: Rate schedule, May 2026
- EIA: 2024 utility bundled retail sales, residential (Table 6)
- CenterPoint Energy 2026 Minnesota Rates, Rights and Tariff Book
- EIA: Minnesota natural gas consumption by end use
- EIA: Minnesota natural gas consumers
- Insurance Information Institute: homeowners and renters insurance (NAIC data)
- City of Otsego: 2026 annual operating budgets
- City of Otsego: Wastewater Master Plan (2018)
How Otsego compares
A typical Otsego house against the 35 Minnesota cities we cover, using the same default numbers as the total above.
| Per year | Otsego | Median | Where it falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property tax rate | 1.33% | 1.49% | lower than 27 of the other 33 Minnesota cities we cover |
| Water | $330 | $339 | lower than 18 of the other 34 Minnesota cities we cover |
| Sewer and utility-bill fees | $895 | $621 | higher than 32 of the other 34 Minnesota cities we cover |
| Electricity and gas | $2,532 | $2,150 | higher than 34 of the other 34 Minnesota cities we cover |
| Home insurance | $1,774 | $1,774 | in the middle of 34 other Minnesota cities we cover |
| Total | $9,944 | $9,536 | higher than 21 of the other 34 Minnesota cities we cover |
Cities bill differently (some put trash on the tax bill, some cover more services), so a higher number isn't necessarily worse. The property tax rate is compared instead of dollars because house values differ.
Questions to ask your candidates
Each one starts from a number above. Any candidate can answer them.
1. Property tax rate
The fact: Otsego's property tax rate is 1.33%, lower than 27 of the other 33 Minnesota cities we cover. The rate adds up every agency on the bill, not only the city.
Ask: "Property tax in Otsego is 1.33%, lower than 27 of the other 33 Minnesota cities we cover. What should that money pay for first, and would you change anything about how it is set?"
2. Sewer and utility-bill fees
The fact: Sewer and flat utility-bill charges here come to about $895 a year, higher than 32 of the other 34 Minnesota cities we cover. Some cities bill sewer on the property tax bill instead, which is not counted here.
Ask: "Sewer and flat utility-bill charges here cost about $895 a year, higher than 32 of the other 34 Minnesota cities we cover. What drives that cost, and would you change anything?"
3. Electricity and gas
The fact: Electricity and gas for a typical house here cost about $2,532 a year, higher than 34 of the other 34 Minnesota cities we cover. Rates are set mostly by the utility and the state.
Ask: "Electricity and gas here cost about $2,532 a year for a typical house, higher than 34 of the other 34 Minnesota cities we cover. Which parts of that can the city influence, and what would you do about them?"
Common questions about Otsego house costs
What is the property tax rate in Otsego?
About 1.33% of the value before exemptions a year (2026 taxes payable, Wright County (Otsego tax district 3001, ISD 728)), plus flat charges on the same bill.
How much is property tax on a $500,000 house in Otsego?
About $5,578 a year on $500,000 of the value before exemptions with the homestead market value exclusion.
How much is the water bill in Otsego?
About $102 a month for water and sewer at typical use (7,000 gallons a month) on City of Otsego.
How much does trash pickup cost in Otsego?
The City lists garbage haulers; no hauler price is included in the totals
When is property tax due in Otsego?
Aug 15: Minnesota property tax refund due; you may still file up to one year late
Can seniors lower their property tax or bills in Otsego?
Yes. Seniors 65+: defer part of your property tax: With the Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral, the tax you pay is 3% of household income and the state pays the rest as a loan, repaid with interest when you sell or cancel.
Where can I get help paying utility bills in Otsego?
LIHEAP households: CenterPoint Gas Affordability Program: Residential customers who receive LIHEAP energy assistance and agree to a levelized payment plan and a payment schedule can get an affordability credit and arrearage forgiveness. The program is available to residential customers qualified for and receiving LIHEAP assistance.
How much does a house in Otsego cost to run each year?
A typical Otsego house pays about $9,900 a year: $4,410 property tax and charges, $1,230 water and sewer, $2,530 electricity and gas, $1,770 home insurance; trash is billed separately. Estimated from public rates, not anyone's actual bill.