United States › Kansas › Ottawa County COUNTY
Ottawa County Kansas · 5,744 residents (2025 est.) · 721 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 5,819 people, Ottawa County is a county in Kansas. That puts it in the top 8% of US counties for household income. There are 8 people per square mile. The foreign-born share is 1%. The typical home is worth $166,000, having more than doubled since 2000. 77% of homes are owner-occupied.
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 from 6,163 in 2000
5,744 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 8 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 40.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
6K 6K 6K 6K 6K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Ottawa County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $74,018
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,009 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $17,663 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 8.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.365 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 10.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 10%
Transportation & warehousing 4.2%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.9%
Education & health services 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.3%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$166,000
+48%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $61,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$809
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $372 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 82.1% in 2000
22.8% rent
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.50 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 24.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 1.8 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 96.9%(5,969)
Hispanic / Latino 1.3%(80)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 92.9%(5,404)
Hispanic / Latino 3.3%(194)
from 12 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
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 Ancestry
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data from 16.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 86.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 76.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 66.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 74.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 29.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 14.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 12.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 66.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 87.5% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 90.9% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 98.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 1.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 12.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 59.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 19.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 22.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 11.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 77.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 32.8% 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) 12.9%(39)
Gulf War (1990s) 25.7%(78)
Share of the 303 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.
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Drill deeper
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%
Population 53,377 +829%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTAWA COUNTY VS
Cloud County
Income $58,770 −21%
Home value $100,000 −40%
Population 8,833 +54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTAWA COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income $66,176 −11%
Home value $155,900 −6%
Population 7,990 +39%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTAWA COUNTY VS
Lincoln County
Income $57,500 −22%
Home value $96,900 −42%
Population 2,861 −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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