Ottawa, IL
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Ottawa, Illinois Summary

Life in Ottawa research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Ottawa over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Ottawa:

  • The population in Ottawa is 18,714.

  • The median home value in Ottawa is $207,661.

  • The median income in Ottawa is $73,011.

  • The cost of living in Ottawa is 94 which is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Ottawa is $922.

  • The unemployment rate in Ottawa is 6.3%.

  • The poverty rate in Ottawa is 14.4%.

  • The average high in Ottawa is 60.3° and the average low is 40.1°.

Ottawa SnackAbility

8
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
6
Affordability
8
Diversity
7
Safety
8.5
Amenities
8.5
Education
6
Commute
8.5

Ottawa, IL Crime Report

Crime in Ottawa summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Ottawa. Key points include:

  • There were 315 total crimes in Ottawa in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Ottawa is 1,682.5 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Ottawa is 186.9 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Ottawa is 1,495.6 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Ottawa is -20.61% below the national average.

315
Total Crimes
-20.61%
Below National Average

Crime In Ottawa Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Ottawa
/ 100k People
Illinois
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 315 1,682.5 2,004.4 2,119.2
Violent Crime 35 186.9 289.2 359.0
Murder 0 0.0 5.8 5.0
Robbery 1 5.3 90.2 61.0
Aggravated Assault 22 117.5 146.3 256.0
Property Crime 280 1,495.6 1,715.2 1,760.0
Burglary 54 288.4 290.5 229.0
Larceny 209 1,116.3 1,134.4 1,272.0
Car Theft 17 90.8 290.4 259.0

Ottawa, IL Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Ottawa summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Ottawa. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Illinois. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Ottawa is 94 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Ottawa is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Ottawa is $207,661.

  • The median income in Ottawa is $73,011.

94
Ottawa's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Ottawa Comparison Table

Living Expense Ottawa Illinois National Average
Overall 94 97 100
Services 104 95 100
Groceries 95 99 100
Health 99 93 100
Housing 71 95 100
Transportation 115 102 100
Utilities 81 91 100

Ottawa, IL Weather

  • The average high in Ottawa is 60.3° and the average low is 40.1°.

  • There are 68.7 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 36.6 inches of precipitation each year with 21.1 inches of snow.

StatOttawa
Average Annual High60.3
Average Annual Low40.1
Annual Precipitation Days68.7
Average Annual Precipitation36.6
Average Annual Snowfall21.1
60.3°
Average High
68.7
Days of Rain

Ottawa, IL Photos

Ottawa Il Downtown
Source: Wikipedia User IvoShandor | CC BY-SA 3.0
La Salle Streetc Looking Northc Ottawac Il
Source: Public Domain
Ottawa Il Washington Park Historic District Site Of First Lincoln Douglas Debate
Source: Wikipedia User IvoShandor | CC BY-SA 3.0
Ottawa Il Washington Park Historic District Lincoln Douglas Statues
Source: Wikipedia User IvoShandor | CC BY-SA 3.0
Ottawa Il Fisher Nash Griggs House
Source: Wikipedia User IvoShandor | CC BY-SA 3.0

Rankings for Ottawa in Illinois

Locations Around Ottawa

Map Of Ottawa, IL

Best Places Around Ottawa

1

Peru, IL
Population 9,863

2

Spring Valley, IL
Population 5,508

3

Mendota, IL
Population 6,915

4

LaSalle, IL
Population 9,471

5

Streator, IL
Population 12,274

Ottawa Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Ottawa

The current population in Ottawa is 18,714. The population has decreased -2.9% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 18,714 0.0%
2022 18,708 -0.1%
2021 18,719 -0.1%
2020 18,742 -0.3%
2019 18,792 0.5%
2018 18,701 -0.4%
2017 18,779 0.4%
2016 18,707 0.8%
2015 18,565 -2.2%
2014 18,992 -0.6%
2013 19,116 -0.7%
2012 19,258 0.2%
2011 19,228 -0.2%
2010 19,263 -

Race / Ethnicity in Ottawa

White
83.3% (15,582)
African American
2.9% (537)
American Indian
0.0% (0)
Asian
1.0% (196)
Hawaiian
0.0% (1)
Other
0.0% (0)
Two Or More
2.9% (548)
Hispanic
9.9% (1,850)

Ottawa is:

  • 83.3% White with 15,582 White residents.

  • 2.9% African American with 537 African American residents.

  • 0.0% American Indian with 0 American Indian residents.

  • 1.0% Asian with 196 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 1 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.0% Other with 0 Other residents.

  • 2.9% Two Or More with 548 Two Or More residents.

  • 9.9% Hispanic with 1,850 Hispanic residents.

Race Ottawa IL USA
White 83.3% 58.7% 58.2%
African American 2.9% 13.6% 12.0%
American Indian 0.0% 0.1% 0.5%
Asian 1.0% 5.8% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.0% 0.2%
Other 0.0% 0.3% 0.5%
Two Or More 2.9% 3.0% 3.9%
Hispanic 9.9% 18.5% 19.0%

Gender in Ottawa

Female
52.1% (9,748)
Male
47.9% (8,966)
  • Ottawa is 52.1% female with 9,748 female residents.

  • Ottawa is 47.9% male with 8,966 male residents.

Gender Ottawa IL USA
Female 52.1% 50.6% 50.5%
Male 47.9% 49.4% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Ottawa for adults over 25

  • 2.0% of adults in Ottawa completed < 9th grade.

  • 6.0% of adults in Ottawa completed 9-12th grade.

  • 34.0% of adults in Ottawa completed high school / ged.

  • 26.0% of adults in Ottawa completed some college.

  • 10.0% of adults in Ottawa completed associate's degree.

  • 16.0% of adults in Ottawa completed bachelor's degree.

  • 5.0% of adults in Ottawa completed master's degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Ottawa completed professional degree.

  • 0.0% of adults in Ottawa completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
2.0% (374)
9-12th Grade
6.0% (1,122)
High School / GED
34.0% (6,362)
Some College
26.0% (4,865)
Associate's Degree
10.0% (1,871)
Bachelor's Degree
16.0% (2,994)
Master's Degree
5.0% (935)
Professional Degree
1.0% (187)
Doctorate Degree
0.0% (0)
Education Ottawa IL USA
< 9th Grade 2.0% 5.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 6.0% 5.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 34.0% 25.0% 26.0%
Some College 26.0% 20.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 10.0% 8.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 16.0% 22.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 5.0% 11.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 1.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 0.0% 2.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Ottawa, Illinois

  • 4.2% of households in Ottawa earn Less than $10,000.

  • 5.7% of households in Ottawa earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 7.1% of households in Ottawa earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 9.6% of households in Ottawa earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 9.9% of households in Ottawa earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 15.8% of households in Ottawa earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 15.7% of households in Ottawa earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 16.6% of households in Ottawa earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 9.6% of households in Ottawa earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 6.0% of households in Ottawa earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
4.2% (78,005)
$10,000 to $14,999
5.7% (105,989)
$15,000 to $24,999
7.1% (131,991)
$25,000 to $34,999
9.6% (179,785)
$35,000 to $49,999
9.9% (184,737)
$50,000 to $74,999
15.8% (295,184)
$75,000 to $99,999
15.7% (293,203)
$100,000 to $149,999
16.6% (311,033)
$150,000 to $199,999
9.6% (178,794)
$200,000 or more
6.0% (112,675)
Income Ottawa IL USA
Less than $10,000 4.2% 5.2% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 5.7% 3.4% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 7.1% 6.2% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 9.6% 6.5% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 9.9% 9.9% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 15.8% 15.1% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 15.7% 12.7% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 16.6% 17.9% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 9.6% 9.9% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 6.0% 13.1% 12.6%

Articles About Illinois

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