Township · Illinois

Ottawa Township, Illinois

Ottawa Township, township, in LaSalle County, Illinois. Ottawa Township had 11,179 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 11,193 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 11,204 (±39). GEOID 1709956939.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

11,179

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 11,193 · ACS 2020-2024: 11,204 ±39

Median household income

$70,008

±$9,203 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390

Median home value

$139,500

±$9,124 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300

Median gross rent

$911

±$70 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274

Where is Ottawa Township and what county is it in?

Ottawa Township is a township in LaSalle County, Illinois. It covers 15.2 square miles of land, 737 residents per square mile in 2020.

2 places lie inside Ottawa Township: Ottawa (city, 18,840 in 2020) and Naplate (village, 412 in 2020).

Ottawa Township is in the Ottawa, IL micropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Ottawa Township (marked with a dot) in LaSalle County, Illinois. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Ottawa Township, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 11,179 people lived in Ottawa Township on July 1, 2025, down 0.8% since 2020, in line with Illinois (−0.8%). The 2020 Census counted 11,193 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 11,204 (±39).

  • July 2020→2021 −14 (11,250)
  • 2021→2022 −88 (11,162)
  • 2022→2023 +35 (11,197)
  • 2023→2024 +4 (11,201)
  • 2024→2025 −22 (11,179)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureOttawa TownshipLaSalle CountyIllinoisChange since 2015-2019
Total population11,204±39108,71412,694,798−63
Households4,857±24545,3735,036,449no clear change
Average household size2.29±0.112.332.46no clear change
Housing units5,319±25949,8435,457,452−444

Ottawa Township's population since 2000

From 12,177 in 2000 to 11,179 in 2025: down 8.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Ottawa Township as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 12,177
  • 2005 (estimate) 11,956
  • 2010 Census 11,766
  • 2015 (estimate) 11,375
  • 2020 Census 11,193
  • 2025 (estimate) 11,179

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Ottawa Township?

The median resident of Ottawa Township is 43.6 years old; 23.0% are under 18 and 15.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 82.7%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 8.3%. 3.3% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureOttawa TownshipLaSalle CountyIllinoisChange since 2015-2019
Median age43.6±2.642.239.0no clear change
Under 18 years23.0%±2.3 pts21.2%21.8%–
65 years and over15.9%±2.7 pts19.9%17.0%–
Male49.9%±2.2 pts51.0%49.4%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)8.3%±3.1 pts11.2%18.8%−4.7 pts
White alone, not Hispanic82.7%±3.5 pts82.1%58.1%no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic3.6%±1.6 pts2.5%13.3%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic1.2%±0.7 pts0.8%5.9%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.3 pts0.0%0.1%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.3 pts0.0%0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic4.1%±1.8 pts3.1%3.4%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.1%±0.1 pts0.3%0.4%–
Born outside the United States3.3%±1.6 pts3.9%14.7%no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)5.2%±2.3 pts7.9%24.0%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)7.8%±2.4 pts7.7%4.8%–
With a disability15.5%±3.2 pts13.9%12.1%–
No health insurance coverage5.8%±2.0 pts4.0%6.9%no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)93.0%±2.4 pts91.8%90.5%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)18.9%±3.5 pts20.5%37.8%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)5.3%±1.7 pts6.5%15.3%–
Lived in the same house a year earlier85.5%±4.2 pts90.9%88.9%–
Moved from another state in the past year2.0%±2.1 pts0.9%1.6%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Ottawa Township earn?

Half of Ottawa Township's 4,857 households earn less than $70,008 a year (±$9,203), against $73,045 in LaSalle County and $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 the median was $57,094 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $12,914 after inflation. 16.6% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
MeasureOttawa TownshipLaSalle CountyIllinoisChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$70,008±$9,203$73,045$83,390+$12,914
Mean household income$97,890±$18,234$93,009$115,638–
Per capita income$42,759±$8,210$39,375$46,406no clear change
People below the poverty line16.6%±3.7 pts13.9%11.8%no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line21.3%±7.5 pts21.0%15.1%no clear change
Households receiving SNAP22.7%±5.3 pts14.8%13.8%–
Households with a computer96.3%±1.6 pts93.4%95.2%–
Households with a broadband subscription83.5%±4.6 pts87.4%90.8%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Ottawa Township?

Owners occupy 70.0% of Ottawa Township's occupied homes and renters 30.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $139,500 by its owner (±$9,124). The median renter pays $911 a month including utilities, and 37.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
MeasureOttawa TownshipLaSalle CountyIllinoisChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$139,500±$9,124$161,900$263,300no clear change
Median gross rent$911±$70$928$1,274no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent37.6%±12.5 pts36.4%39.0%no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$1,279±$131$1,476$1,987–
Owner-occupied homes70.0%±4.1 pts74.4%67.1%+9.4 pts
Renter-occupied homes30.0%±4.1 pts25.6%32.9%–
Housing units5,319±25949,8435,457,452−444
Homeowner vacancy rate1.5%±1.4 pts1.2%1.0%–
Rental vacancy rate0.0%±2.4 pts3.9%5.0%–
Single-family detached homes71.9%±4.7 pts78.8%58.2%–
Mobile homes0.9%±1.0 pts4.2%2.3%–
Built 2020 or later1.1%±0.8 pts0.7%0.7%–
Built 2010 to 20193.9%±1.9 pts2.9%5.0%–
Built 1939 or earlier28.9%±5.2 pts24.6%20.2%–
Households with no vehicle7.9%±3.1 pts6.0%11.0%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How do people in Ottawa Township work and get to work?

79.4% of Ottawa Township's workers drive alone and 5.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 8.4%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
MeasureOttawa TownshipLaSalle CountyIllinoisChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)61.1%±4.9 pts61.3%65.0%–
Unemployment rate8.4%±3.6 pts5.4%5.8%no clear change
Drove alone to work79.4%±3.8 pts83.0%65.9%–
Carpooled12.2%±3.4 pts8.2%7.8%–
Public transportation0.0%±0.7 pts0.2%5.8%–
Walked0.6%±0.7 pts1.8%2.8%–
Worked from home5.5%±2.5 pts5.1%15.9%no clear change
Mean travel time to work19.4 min±1.926.0 min27.8 minno clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Ottawa Township?

3 census tracts lie mostly in Ottawa Township, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $55,982 (Tract 9627) to $70,278 (Tract 9626).

Census tracts in Ottawa Township, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Ottawa Township
Tract 9626LaSalle County5,793 $70,278 $168,00076%
Tract 9628LaSalle County3,155 $63,106 $113,300100%
Tract 9627LaSalle County2,207 $55,982 $128,400100%
Tract 9623LaSalle County6,970 $96,159 $246,40011%
Tract 9622LaSalle County4,782 $108,614 $242,80013%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Ottawa Township) · Census block assignment files

How does Ottawa Township compare with other places in Illinois?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Ottawa Township is the 1,118th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 143rd-most populous of 1,407 in Illinois.

Ottawa Township ranks 849th of 1,380 places in Illinois with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Ottawa Township's rank in Illinois (1 = highest): by population among the state's towns and townships with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate143rd1,407
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)412th1,347
Residents per square mile717th1,383
Median household income849th1,380
Per capita income488th1,383
Median home value892nd1,379
Median gross rent727th1,280
Poverty rate224th1,119
Bachelor's degree or higher949th1,369
Median age420th1,383
Owner-occupied share1,031st1,382
Work from home923rd1,015
Travel time to work1,180th1,382

Ottawa Township's figures with every place in Illinois (CSV)

Every place in Illinois, sortable · Compare Ottawa Township with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Ottawa Township?

10 of the 57 figures for Ottawa Township on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Ottawa Township are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.