Ottawa city, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Ottawa city is a small city located in Illinois. The total population is 18,714. It ranks as the 130th most populous out of 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ottawa city is 40.3 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ottawa city is $73,011. This is 11% lower than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 7% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.4%. This is 23% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 6.3%. This is 9% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $144,500. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Ottawa city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Ottawa city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.9%. The Black or African American population (2.9%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

21.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 41% lower than the state rate of 37.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ottawa city, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Illinois state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois. For official data, visit data.census.gov.