Compensation for repeated runout (RRO) error, such as in a data storage device servo circuit, is preferably carried out by obtaining a population distribution of RRO error values from at least selected ones of a subset of tracks. An RRO error compensation value is determined for each one of the subset of tracks when a variance characteristic of said population distribution meets a selected criterion. Preferably, a first track of a storage medium has a servo field at a first angular position on the medium, a repeated runout (RRO) error compensation field at a second angular position on the medium, and a user data field at a third angular position on the medium. An immediately adjacent second track preferably has a servo field at the first angular position and a user data field at the second angular position in lieu of an RRO error compensation field.