United States › Illinois › Ottawa CITY · 2000 CENSUS
Ottawa Illinois · 18,307 residents · 14.9 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Ottawa is home to 18,307 people in Illinois. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Households here earn about 22% less than in Illinois as a whole. Home values have risen by half since 1990, reaching $87,800. The median household earns $36,513, about 14% below the national median. Headcount has barely moved since 1990.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 38.2
US median: 35.2
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01
Population & growth from 36.5 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
17K 18K 18K 19K 19K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Ottawa Age distribution, 2000
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $36,513
+6%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $26,077 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $13,195 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 11.0% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$87,800
+25%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $53,500 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$490
+7%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $347 in 1990
US average: $602
from 66.1% in 1990
32.6% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 97.4%(17,014)
Hispanic / Latino 3.3%(579)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 91.5%(16,756)
Hispanic / Latino 5.2%(954)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Ancestry
+ 24 more ancestry groups with data from 12.9% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 74.2% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 4.1% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 14.7 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 28.1%(1,909)
Women 15+
Never married 20.8%(1,610)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 12.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 57.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 13.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 18.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 26.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 68.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 43.6% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 16.4%(180)
Gulf War (1990s) 37.5%(412)
Share of the 1,100 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Ottawa, Illinois? Ottawa, Illinois has about 18,307 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in Ottawa, Illinois? The typical household in Ottawa, Illinois earns about $36,513 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 $87,800, and the typical rent is about $490 a month.
How educated are people in Ottawa, Illinois? About 16.3% 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 11.3% 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 845 residents, a change of about 5 percent over that period.
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