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COUNTY

Ottawa County

Kansas · 5,744 residents (2025 est.) · 720.73 sq mi
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The short version

Ottawa County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $74,018. Population has declined 6% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $166,000. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 48%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,819
−6%since 2000
from 6,163 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
8 / sq mi
−3%since 2009
from 8 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.4
+6%since 2000
from 40.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,744 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6K6K6K6K6K1990201020202024Ottawa County
20246K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.7%(329)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.1%(296)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148.3%(482)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.9%(346)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.4%(313)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.2%(592)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.3%(714)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.5%(672)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.7%(854)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.3%(718)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.1%(412)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.6%(91)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$74,018
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,009 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,666
+108%since 2000
from $17,663 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
49.5%
+27.5 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.4%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 8.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.421
+15%since 2010
from 0.365 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services11.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade11.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Public administration10.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing10%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction9.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Information8.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade5.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing4.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services2.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.8%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.3%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$166,000
+48%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $61,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$809
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $372 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.2%
−4.9 ptssince 2000
from 82.1% in 2000
22.8% rent
Vacancy rate
10.6%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.5%
+5.4 ptssince 2009
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.7%
+12.8 ptssince 2009
from 24.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.2
+28%since 2009
from 1.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
62
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ottawa County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.9%(5,969)
Black0.5%(31)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(80)
Asian0.1%(8)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic92.9%(5,404)
Black0.4%(23)
Hispanic / Latino3.3%(194)
Asian0.1%(3)
Other3.4%(195)
Diversity Score
17
+44%since 2009
from 12 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
9
−1%since 2020
from 9 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.6%(149)
Spaniard0.3%(15)
Bolivian0.1%(8)
Chilean0.1%(6)
Asian origin
Thai0.1%(3)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German28.4%(1,650)
Irish10.1%(590)
English9.9%(575)
American8.9%(520)
Swedish3.6%(212)
Scottish2.9%(169)
Dutch2.7%(159)
French2.7%(155)
Czech1.7%(100)
Italian1.7%(98)
Polish1.4%(82)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian1.2%(72)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(62)
Russian0.9%(50)
Swiss0.4%(25)
Kenyan0.3%(20)
Welsh0.3%(20)
British0.1%(8)
Danish0.1%(8)
Belgian0.1%(7)
Canadian0.1%(3)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Swedish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.7%
+11.4 ptssince 2000
from 16.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.9%
+8.7 ptssince 2000
from 86.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.6%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.8 min
+53%since 2000
from 15.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.0%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 76.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.6%
−6.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.7%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.3%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.9%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 5.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
64.1%
−2.1 ptssince 2011
from 66.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.5%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
41.1%
−23.9 ptssince 2009
from 65.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.0%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Female
48.0%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Foreign born
0.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.8%
−42.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.7%
−2.2 ptssince 2012
from 14.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.6%
−80.5 ptssince 2013
from 87.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.2%
+22.2 ptssince 2017
from 66.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 98.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 1.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married27.9%(676)
Married58.9%(1,428)
Widowed2.8%(67)
Divorced10.5%(254)
Women 15+
Never married18.6%(425)
Married58.3%(1,334)
Widowed12.1%(277)
Divorced11%(251)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Ottawa County

Custer County
Pop 5,590
Putnam County
Pop 5,619
Lincoln County
Pop 5,603
Ohio County
Pop 5,994
Places similar to Ottawa County
Head to head

Compare Ottawa County to nearby counties

OTTAWA COUNTY VS
Saline County
Income$65,422−12%
Home value$179,600+8%
Population53,377+829%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTAWA COUNTY VS
Cloud County
Income$58,770−21%
Home value$100,000−40%
Population8,833+54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTAWA COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income$66,176−11%
Home value$155,900−6%
Population7,990+39%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTAWA COUNTY VS
Lincoln County
Income$57,500−22%
Home value$96,900−42%
Population2,861−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ottawa County, Kansas?

Ottawa County, Kansas has about 5,819 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Ottawa County, Kansas?

The typical household in Ottawa County, Kansas earns about $74,018 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Ottawa County, Kansas expensive?

In Ottawa County, Kansas, the median home is worth about $166,000, and the typical rent is about $809 a month.

How educated are people in Ottawa County, Kansas?

About 27.7% of adults age 25 and over in Ottawa County, Kansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Ottawa County, Kansas?

About 10.4% of people in Ottawa County, Kansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Ottawa County, Kansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Ottawa County, Kansas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 185 residents, a change of about 3 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 857Census Tract 856
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 67467ZIP 67422ZIP 67480ZIP 67484ZIP 67436
Up the hierarchy
All counties in Kansas
Rankings
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →