At a Glance
Median Income
$73,011
$37,776 per capita
Home Value
$144,500
Zillow: $205,721
Median Rent
$922/mo
27.0% of income on rent
Violent Crime
150/100K
1,513/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
21.9%
91.9% high school+
Unemployment
4.0%
11.9% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
38.3%
16.0% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
50°F
275 sunny days/yr
How Ottawa Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Ottawa's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Ottawa a Good Place to Live?
B
3.1 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Ottawa residents earn a median household income of $73,011 , which is 3% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $37,776. The unemployment rate stands at 4.0% (11% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 11.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 2,450 business establishments, including 328 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Ottawa is $144,500 , 49% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $205,721. Median rent is $922/month, with 27.0% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1957.
Safety & Crime
Ottawa reports 150 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 61% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,513/100K. The murder rate is 11.1/100K.
Education
21.9% of adults in Ottawa hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(35% below the national average).
91.9% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.2/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Ottawa has an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C).
Winters average 23°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 39.0 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.
Data Overview
People
Population18,714
Median Age40.3 yrs
Density1,256/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans7.3%
Economy
B+
Median Income$73,011
Per Capita$37,776
Unemployment4.0%
Poverty11.9%
County GDP$7,670M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,126
Housing
A+
Home Value$144,500
Rent$922
Ownership69.4%
Zillow$205,721
Housing Units8,544
Rent Burden27.0%
Crime
F
Violent150/100K
Property1,513/100K
Murder11.1/100K
Assault139/100K
Burglary155/100K
Health
Obesity38.3%
Diabetes10.3%
Smoking16.0%
Heart Disease5.7%
Premature Death8,943/100K
Climate
Avg Temp50°F
Sunny Days275/yr
Rain39.0 in/yr
AQI43 (Good)
Elevation482 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+21.9%
High School+91.9%
Graduate+6.9%
School Score5.2/10
Community
2024 VoteR 59% / D 40%
Commute23 min
Broadband84.0%
Internet Speed66 Mbps
EV Stations5
Libraries12
Did You Know?
Ottawa was founded in 1853.
The median home in Ottawa was built in 1957.
The nearest airport is Illinois Valley Regional-Walter A Duncan Field (17 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.435 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
13.2% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
There are 328 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 13 fatal vehicle crashes.
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