City profile · Ohio · Census ACS 2023

Ottawa, OH

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Ottawa - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

4,439
Residents
$66,268
Median income
$175,300
Median home
$1,053
Median rent (state)

Ottawa - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Ottawa lands in the 45th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

45th
percentile, household income
35th
percentile, home value
25th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Ottawa, OH

4,439 people live in Ottawa, Ohio - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $66,268 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.8%. Typical homes in Ottawa are valued around $175,300, and the median resident age is 41.8 years. 33.6% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 60.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 5 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Ohio run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Ohio at 92.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,053 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $228 across Ohio, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 32.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

4,439 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Ohio

Median Household Income

$66,268 /yr

Poverty 6.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.8 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Ohio average

How does Ottawa compare to other US cities?

Where Ottawa sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 45% higher than other cities
Home value 35% pricier than other cities
Median rent 25% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Ottawa's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Ohio, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

45thIncome percentile

45th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Ottawa's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$175,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 65% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Ottawa $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Ottawa, OH Ottawa, OH's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Ottawa, OH-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Ottawa, OH median $66,268/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Ottawa, OH's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Ottawa, OH. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 33.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
4,439
Median Income
$66,268
Median Home Value
$175,300
Median Age
41.8
Poverty Rate
6.8%
Labor force participation
60.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
33.6%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,400 residents4,420 residents4,440 residents4,460 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,453 residents 4,437 residents ▼ -0.4%
Ottawa's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
5
housing units authorized
Single-Family
5
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 5
2020 4
2021 3
2022 6
2023 4
2024 5

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
88.7%
Carpool
4.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.4%
Work from Home
5.3%

Based on 2,116 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Ohio - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$78
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$228
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Ohio state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Ohio state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Ottawa sits in

Cost of Living Index
92.8
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,053/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
32.9 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Ohio

Crestline
4,467 people
New Lexington
4,479 people
Pleasant Run Farm
4,390 people
Coldwater
4,387 people
Archbold
4,369 people
Wellington
4,514 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Ottawa's 4,439 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Huxley, IA
4,440 people
Mystic, CT
4,441 people
Mojave, CA
4,442 people
Arabi, LA
4,436 people
Carmel Valley, CA
4,435 people
Greenville, KY
4,435 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Ottawa's $66,268 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Banner Hill, TN
$66,270 median income
Camp Pendleton South, CA
$66,265 median income
Lake Havasu City, AZ
$66,264 median income
Duluth, MN
$66,263 median income
Jasper, AL
$66,250 median income
Port Alsworth, AK
$66,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Ottawa, OH Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Ottawa, OH - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 83.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 13.4% White 83.3% Black or African American 3.1% Asian 1.2% American Indian 2.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 4.7% Two or more races 5.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Ottawa compares to nearby Ohio cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Ottawa (this city) 4,439 $66,268
Crestline 4,467 $48,298
New Lexington 4,479 $43,447
Pleasant Run Farm 4,390 $78,053
Census ACS 5-year FIPS OH NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Ottawa, OH?

What is the population of Ottawa, OH? +

Ottawa, OH counts 4,439 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Ottawa, OH? +

Median annual household income in Ottawa runs $66,268, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Ottawa? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Ottawa; the closest available measure is the Ohio state average, a cost of living index of 92.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Ohio vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Ottawa, OH? +

A typical home in Ottawa is worth $175,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.