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MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2010 ACS

Ottawa Micro

Ottawa, IL · 3 counties · 154,908 residents · 2,164.306 sq mi
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The short version

Ottawa has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $50,532. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value is $120,120.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 41.5
US median: 37.2
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
154,908
+1%since 2000
from 153,098 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
72 / sq mi
+1%since 2000
from 71 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
41.5
+8%since 2000
from 38.5 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
146K149K151K153K156K1990201020202024Ottawa
2024147K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$50,532
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,497 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,862
+29%since 2000
from $19,292 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
28.6%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 27.4% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
10.9%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 8.6% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.411
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade15.8%
US avg: 10.9%
Information14.1%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade7.6%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance6.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical5.2%
US avg: 4.2%
Other services4.4%
US avg: 7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.6%
US avg: 3.1%
Public administration3.4%
US avg: 4.9%
Construction3.2%
US avg: 1.4%
Education & health services1.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 2.4%
Manufacturing0.8%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$120,120
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $84,805 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$628
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $463 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
46.7%
−28.8 ptssince 2000
from 75.6% in 2000
24.8% rent
Vacancy rate
8.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
24.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 23.8% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 38.1% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.4
+14%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic88.9%(137,672)
Black1.5%(2,326)
Hispanic / Latino7.8%(12,082)
Asian0.6%(988)
Other1.5%(2,339)
Diversity Score26.1%(40,407)
Diversity Score
26
+62%since 2000
from 16 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.8%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 13.8% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
88.2%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 82.1% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
5.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.7 min
+32%since 2000
from 16.5 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
82.7%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 82.7% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
9.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
3.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
2.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
5.7%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
10.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
25.0%
−32.2 ptssince 2009
from 57.2% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Female
50.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Foreign born
3.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
11.5%
−37.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+44%
Home value$448,000+273%
Population144,368−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTAWA VS
Anderson Creek
Income$71,287+41%
Home value$246,200+105%
Population150,137+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTAWA VS
Harrisonburg
Income$73,776+46%
Home value$307,785+156%
Population140,155−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTAWA VS
Jefferson City
Income$73,899+46%
Home value$215,872+80%
Population152,712+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ottawa, IL?

Ottawa, IL has about 154,908 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Ottawa, IL?

The typical household in Ottawa, IL earns about $50,532 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 $120,120, and the typical rent is about $628 a month.

How educated are people in Ottawa, IL?

About 15.8% 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 10.9% of people in Ottawa, IL live below the federal poverty line.

Has Ottawa, IL grown since 1990?

Yes, Ottawa, IL has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,577 residents, a change of about 4 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 →