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CITY

Ottumwa

Iowa · 25,319 residents (2025 est.) · 16.064 sq mi
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The short version

Ottumwa has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $61,103. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $106,300.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
25,430
+2%since 2000
from 24,998 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,583 / sq mi
+2%since 2000
from 1,556 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.7
−4%since 2000
from 38.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:25,319 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
24K25K25K25K26K1990201020202024Ottumwa
202425K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$61,103
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,174 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,586
+91%since 2000
from $16,040 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
38.4%
+21.5 ptssince 2009
from 17.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.2%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 15.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.426
−2%since 2010
from 0.436 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade28.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information14.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade5.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction1.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$106,300
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$921
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $427 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
61.7%
−9.8 ptssince 2000
from 71.5% in 2000
38.3% rent
Vacancy rate
12.4%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.6%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 19.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.6%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 41.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.7
+12%since 2000
from 1.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
58
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ottumwa on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.1%(23,514)
Black1.3%(313)
Hispanic / Latino2.8%(691)
Asian0.8%(196)
Other0%
Diversity Score11.7%(2,929)
2024
White, non-Hispanic69%(17,541)
Black4%(1,023)
Hispanic / Latino17.1%(4,356)
Asian2.3%(579)
Other7.6%(1,931)
Diversity Score60.9%(15,479)
Diversity Score
61
+419%since 2000
from 12 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.8%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 15.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.5%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 79.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.8 min
+42%since 2000
from 12.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 76.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.3%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.6%
−4.8 ptssince 2011
from 9.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2011
from 64.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.2%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.8%
−29.4 ptssince 2009
from 58.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.7%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
49.3%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
13.5%
+7.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.6%
−42.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2012
from 16.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.1%
−80.2 ptssince 2013
from 87.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.4%
+16.7 ptssince 2017
from 69.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
79.7%
−3.3 ptssince 2016
from 83.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
12.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 12.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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OTTUMWA VS
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OTTUMWA VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Ottumwa, Iowa?

Ottumwa, Iowa has about 25,430 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Ottumwa, Iowa?

The typical household in Ottumwa, Iowa earns about $61,103 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Ottumwa, Iowa expensive?

In Ottumwa, Iowa, the median home is worth about $106,300, and the typical rent is about $921 a month.

How educated are people in Ottumwa, Iowa?

About 20.8% of adults age 25 and over in Ottumwa, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Ottumwa, Iowa?

About 17.2% of people in Ottumwa, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Ottumwa, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Ottumwa, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 942 residents, a change of about 4 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →