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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Ottawa Micro

Ottawa, KS · 1 counties · 26,299 residents (2025 est.) · 571.772 sq mi
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The short version

Ottawa has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $77,207. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $198,700. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 42%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
26,106
+5%since 2000
from 24,784 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
46 / sq mi
+5%since 2000
from 43 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.7
+10%since 2000
from 36.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:26,299 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
22K23K24K25K27K1990201020202024Ottawa
202426K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$77,207
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,052 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,973
+102%since 2000
from $17,311 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
51.3%
+25.7 ptssince 2009
from 25.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.7%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 7.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.376
+3%since 2010
from 0.364 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance11.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Retail trade10.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Professional, scientific, technical8.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade5.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing5.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services3.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Education & health services3.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration2.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.6%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$198,700
+42%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $76,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,042
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $465 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
72.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 73.5% in 2000
27.8% rent
Vacancy rate
8.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.3%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 23.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.4%
+5.9 ptssince 2009
from 32.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
+31%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
57
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ottawa on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.6%(23,193)
Black1.2%(287)
Hispanic / Latino2.6%(650)
Asian0.3%(77)
Other0%
Diversity Score10.1%(2,514)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.9%(23,210)
Black1.1%(278)
Hispanic / Latino4.8%(1,264)
Asian0.6%(160)
Other4.6%(1,194)
Diversity Score25.6%(6,689)
Segregation Score14.5%(3,795)
Diversity Score
26
+153%since 2000
from 10 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
15
+9%since 2020
from 13 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.6%
+8.1 ptssince 2000
from 16.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.7%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 85.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.9%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.4 min
+20%since 2000
from 19.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.7%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 77.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.1%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.9%
+5.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.0%
−3.5 ptssince 2011
from 6.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.1%
−4.4 ptssince 2011
from 70.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.5%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.7%
−24.9 ptssince 2009
from 58.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.3%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
49.7%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
2.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.9%
−39.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.7%
+2.5 ptssince 2012
from 13.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.9%
−82.0 ptssince 2013
from 89.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.7%
+17.9 ptssince 2017
from 67.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.7%
−0.9 ptssince 2016
from 97.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 1.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

OttawaCENTRAL12,716
What's inside

1 component county

Franklin CountyCENTRAL26,299
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Ottawa

Fallon
Pop 25,851
Marshall
Pop 25,684
Fredericksburg
Pop 28,527
Lexington
Pop 26,255
Places similar to Ottawa
Head to head

Compare Ottawa side by side

OTTAWA VS
Fallon
Income$79,163+3%
Home value$329,900+66%
Population25,851−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTAWA VS
Marshall
Income$75,303−2%
Home value$200,700+1%
Population25,684−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTAWA VS
Fredericksburg
Income$76,162−1%
Home value$460,700+132%
Population28,527+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTTAWA VS
Lexington
Income$70,472−9%
Home value$171,043−14%
Population26,255same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ottawa, KS?

Ottawa, KS has about 26,106 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Ottawa, KS?

The typical household in Ottawa, KS earns about $77,207 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Ottawa, KS expensive?

In Ottawa, KS, the median home is worth about $198,700, and the typical rent is about $1,042 a month.

How educated are people in Ottawa, KS?

About 24.6% of adults age 25 and over in Ottawa, KS hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Ottawa, KS?

About 8.7% of people in Ottawa, KS live below the federal poverty line.

Has Ottawa, KS grown since 1990?

Yes, Ottawa, KS has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,112 residents, a change of about 19 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 →