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CITY

Ottawa

Illinois · 18,684 residents (2025 est.) · 14.895 sq mi
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The short version

Ottawa has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $71,413. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $154,000.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% 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
18,447
+1%since 2000
from 18,307 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,238 / sq mi
+1%since 2000
from 1,229 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.8
+4%since 2000
from 38.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:18,684 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
17K18K18K19K19K1990201020202024Ottawa
202418K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$71,413
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,513 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$40,071
+106%since 2000
from $19,426 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
48.8%
+26.2 ptssince 2009
from 22.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.3%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.491
+18%since 2010
from 0.417 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance9.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade6.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Education & health services2.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing1.4%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$154,000
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $87,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$920
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $490 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.7%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 67.4% in 2000
30.3% rent
Vacancy rate
8.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.6%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
47.6%
+8.4 ptssince 2009
from 39.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.2
−10%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
38
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ottawa on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.5%(16,756)
Black1.3%(241)
Hispanic / Latino5.2%(954)
Asian0.8%(152)
Other0%
Diversity Score17.5%(3,210)
2024
White, non-Hispanic82.6%(15,229)
Black2.5%(458)
Hispanic / Latino10.1%(1,861)
Asian1%(184)
Other3.9%(715)
Diversity Score38.3%(7,057)
Diversity Score
38
+118%since 2000
from 18 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
23.3%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 16.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.6%
+9.2 ptssince 2000
from 82.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.6%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 5.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.7 min
+44%since 2000
from 15.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.2%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 83.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.9%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.2%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.6%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.9%
−5.0 ptssince 2011
from 11.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.5%
−4.0 ptssince 2011
from 65.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.7%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.8%
−23.6 ptssince 2009
from 57.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.9%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Female
53.1%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Foreign born
3.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.0%
−40.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.7%
+1.9 ptssince 2012
from 12.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.0%
−83.0 ptssince 2013
from 88.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.3%
+4.4 ptssince 2017
from 79.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.6%
+1.2 ptssince 2016
from 93.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.1%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 4.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Ottawa to nearby cities

OTTAWA VS
LaSalle
Income$57,732−19%
Home value$113,500−26%
Population9,388−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTAWA VS
Streator
Income$57,609−19%
Home value$94,700−39%
Population12,190−35%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTAWA VS
Peru
Income$74,808+5%
Home value$154,300same
Population9,780−48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTAWA VS
Morris
Income$76,711+7%
Home value$247,400+61%
Population14,669−21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ottawa, Illinois?

Ottawa, Illinois has about 18,447 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Ottawa, Illinois?

The typical household in Ottawa, Illinois earns about $71,413 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Ottawa, Illinois expensive?

In Ottawa, Illinois, the median home is worth about $154,000, and the typical rent is about $920 a month.

How educated are people in Ottawa, Illinois?

About 23.3% of adults age 25 and over in Ottawa, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Ottawa, Illinois?

About 17.3% of people in Ottawa, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Ottawa, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Ottawa, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 985 residents, a change of about 6 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 →