City · Kansas
Ottawa, Kansas
Ottawa, city, in Franklin County, Kansas. Ottawa had 12,716 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 12,625 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 12,678 (±37). GEOID 2053550.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
12,716
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 12,625 · ACS 2020-2024: 12,678 ±37
Median household income
$71,699
±$12,962 (90% margin)
Kansas: $74,275
Median home value
$166,500
±$7,220 (90% margin)
Kansas: $217,200
Median gross rent
$1,032
±$49 (90% margin)
Kansas: $1,060
Where is Ottawa and what county is it in?
Ottawa is a city in Franklin County, Kansas. It covers 10.3 square miles of land, 1,223 residents per square mile in 2020.
Ottawa is in the Ottawa, KS micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Ottawa, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 12,716 people lived in Ottawa on July 1, 2025, up 0.7% since 2020, slower than Kansas (+1.3%). The 2020 Census counted 12,625 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 12,678 (±37).
| Measure | Ottawa | Franklin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 12,678 ±37 | 26,106 | +418 |
| Households | 5,233 ±228 | 10,409 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.32 ±0.10 | 2.45 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,583 ±195 | 11,310 | no clear change |
Ottawa's population since 2000
From 11,921 in 2000 to 12,716 in 2025: up 6.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Ottawa 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.
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?
The median resident of Ottawa is 36.9 years old; 22.8% are under 18 and 14.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 87.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 5.4%. 2.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Ottawa | Franklin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 ±2.0 | 39.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.8% ±1.8 pts | 23.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.9% ±1.9 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Male | 50.2% ±1.9 pts | 50.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.4% ±1.6 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 87.1% ±2.0 pts | 88.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.7% ±0.8 pts | 1.1% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±0.4 pts | 0.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±0.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.1% ±1.4 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.1% ±1.0 pts | 2.0% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.1% ±1.1 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.3% ±2.5 pts | 8.9% | – |
| With a disability | 15.9% ±2.5 pts | 15.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.1% ±2.3 pts | 7.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.1% ±1.8 pts | 92.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 25.8% ±4.9 pts | 24.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.2% ±3.0 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 83.8% ±4.2 pts | 88.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.0% ±1.3 pts | 2.2% | – |
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 earn?
Half of Ottawa's 5,233 households earn less than $71,699 a year (±$12,962), against $77,207 in Franklin County and $74,275 in Kansas. In 2015-2019 the median was $57,606 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $14,093 after inflation. 9.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Ottawa | Franklin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $71,699 ±$12,962 | $77,207 | +$14,093 |
| Mean household income | $78,671 ±$5,626 | $86,587 | – |
| Per capita income | $33,124 ±$2,656 | $34,973 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.1% ±2.9 pts | 8.7% | −4.8 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 9.0% ±5.6 pts | 6.7% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.9% ±2.6 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.5% ±1.5 pts | 94.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.1% ±3.0 pts | 85.7% | – |
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?
Owners occupy 59.8% of Ottawa's occupied homes and renters 40.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $166,500 by its owner (±$7,220). The median renter pays $1,032 a month including utilities, and 30.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Ottawa | Franklin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $166,500 ±$7,220 | $198,700 | +$32,354 |
| Median gross rent | $1,032 ±$49 | $1,042 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 30.5% ±7.2 pts | 32.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,583 ±$80 | $1,669 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 59.8% ±4.4 pts | 72.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 40.2% ±4.4 pts | 27.8% | – |
| Housing units | 5,583 ±195 | 11,310 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.7% ±1.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.6% ±4.7 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 66.9% ±4.2 pts | 75.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 7.5% ±2.8 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.0% ±0.9 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.5% ±1.6 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 24.4% ±4.3 pts | 22.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.4% ±1.9 pts | 3.1% | – |
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 many new homes is Ottawa building?
Builders took permits for 69 new housing units in Ottawa in 2025 (55 in single-family houses), 5.4 per 1,000 residents against 3.5 across Kansas.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Ottawa work and get to work?
75.0% of Ottawa's workers drive alone and 9.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.9%.
| Measure | Ottawa | Franklin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 68.5% ±3.4 pts | 66.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% ±1.5 pts | 3.0% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 75.0% ±4.8 pts | 75.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.4% ±3.9 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 1.6% ±1.1 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.6% ±2.7 pts | 9.9% | +6.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.2 min ±1.7 | 23.4 min | no 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?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Ottawa, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $54,338 (Tract 9544) to $80,046 (Tract 9543).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9544Franklin County | 4,958 | $54,338 |
| Tract 9543Franklin County | 5,217 | $80,046 |
| Tract 9542Franklin County | 2,809 | $70,091 |
| Tract 9545Franklin County | 6,044 | $86,316 |
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) · Census block assignment files
How does Ottawa compare with other places in Kansas?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Ottawa is the 2,714th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 28th-most populous of 625 in Kansas.
Ottawa ranks 187th of 374 places in Kansas with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 28th | 625 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 137th | 373 |
| Residents per square mile | 100th | 376 |
| Median household income | 187th | 374 |
| Per capita income | 247th | 375 |
| Median home value | 184th | 370 |
| Median gross rent | 99th | 333 |
| Poverty rate | 147th | 266 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 208th | 374 |
| Median age | 261st | 376 |
| Owner-occupied share | 332nd | 374 |
| Work from home | 104th | 233 |
| Travel time to work | 200th | 375 |
Ottawa's figures with every place in Kansas (CSV)
Every place in Kansas, sortable · Compare Ottawa 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?
7 of the 57 figures for Ottawa 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 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' public schools in Ottawa.