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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Ottawa Micro

Ottawa, IL · 3 counties · 145,902 residents (2025 est.) · 2,164.306 sq mi
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The short version

Ottawa has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $72,296. Population has declined 4% 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 $154,495. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.8
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
147,181
−4%since 2000
from 153,098 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
68 / sq mi
−4%since 2000
from 71 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
42.8
+11%since 2000
from 38.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:145,902 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
146K149K151K153K156K1990201020202024Ottawa
2024147K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$72,296
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,497 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,977
+102%since 2000
from $19,292 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
48.4%
+21.0 ptssince 2009
from 27.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.0%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 8.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.437
+6%since 2010
from 0.411 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade14.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance8.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade6.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Construction3.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services2.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.9%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$154,495
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $84,805 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$904
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $463 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
75.1%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 75.6% in 2000
24.9% rent
Vacancy rate
9.7%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.7%
−7.1 ptssince 2009
from 23.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
37.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 38.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.1
+2%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
19
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ottawa on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.4%(141,457)
Black1.2%(1,834)
Hispanic / Latino5%(7,694)
Asian0.5%(776)
Other0%
Diversity Score16.1%(24,580)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic82.9%(122,068)
Black2%(2,927)
Hispanic / Latino10.8%(15,886)
Asian0.8%(1,237)
Other3.4%(5,063)
Diversity Score37.4%(54,980)
Segregation Score27.5%(40,444)
Diversity Score
37
+133%since 2000
from 16 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
27
−13%since 2020
from 32 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.8%
+7.1 ptssince 2000
from 13.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.8%
+9.7 ptssince 2000
from 82.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.0 min
+51%since 2000
from 16.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 82.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% 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
5.3%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.1%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 9.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.6%
−3.9 ptssince 2011
from 65.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.9%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.8%
−26.3 ptssince 2009
from 57.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.7%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Female
49.3%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Foreign born
3.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.3%
−41.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.2%
+2.4 ptssince 2012
from 11.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.3%
−85.3 ptssince 2013
from 89.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.1%
+10.4 ptssince 2017
from 76.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.4%
−0.8 ptssince 2016
from 93.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 5.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

OttawaCENTRAL18,684
What's inside

3 component counties

LaSalle CountyCENTRAL107,773Bureau CountyCENTRAL32,510Putnam County5,619
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Ottawa

Flagstaff
Pop 144,368
Anderson Creek
Pop 150,137
Harrisonburg
Pop 140,155
Jefferson City
Pop 152,712
Places similar to Ottawa
Head to head

Compare Ottawa side by side

OTTAWA VS
Flagstaff
Income$72,966+1%
Home value$448,000+190%
Population144,368−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTAWA VS
Anderson Creek
Income$71,287−1%
Home value$246,200+59%
Population150,137+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTAWA VS
Harrisonburg
Income$73,776+2%
Home value$307,785+99%
Population140,155−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTAWA VS
Jefferson City
Income$73,899+2%
Home value$215,872+40%
Population152,712+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ottawa, IL?

Ottawa, IL has about 147,181 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Ottawa, IL?

The typical household in Ottawa, IL earns about $72,296 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Ottawa, IL expensive?

In Ottawa, IL, the median home is worth about $154,495, and the typical rent is about $904 a month.

How educated are people in Ottawa, IL?

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

What is the poverty rate in Ottawa, IL?

About 13.0% of people in Ottawa, IL live below the federal poverty line.

Has Ottawa, IL grown since 1990?

Yes, Ottawa, IL has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,150 residents, a change of about -1 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →