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Ottawa County, Kansas Demographics 2026

Ottawa County, Kansas has a population of 5,819, the 59th most populous county in Kansas. The median household income is $74,018 and the median home value is $166,000. The poverty rate is 10.4%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Ottawa County Quick Facts

Population 5,819
Median Household Income $74,018
Median Home Value $166,000
Poverty Rate 10.4%
Unemployment Rate 2.9%
Median Age 42.4 years
Homeownership Rate 77.2%
Affordability Ratio 2.2x
Bachelor's Degree+ 27.7%
High School Graduation 94.9%
Cities/Places 8
Population 5,819 59th of 105
Median Income $74,018 about the same as state
Poverty Rate 10.4%
Unemployment 2.9%

How Ottawa County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population5,7825,819+0.6%
Median household income$76,755$74,018-3.6%
Median home value$164,100$166,000+1.2%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 18.2%
$25K-$50K 14.9%
$50K-$100K 32.4%
$100K+ 34.5%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.8%
$10K-$15K
3.4%
$15K-$20K
3.7%
$20K-$25K
5.4%
$25K-$30K
2.7%
$30K-$35K
2.0%
$35K-$40K
3.2%
$40K-$45K
3.1%
$45K-$50K
3.9%
$50K-$60K
10.5%
$60K-$75K
6.7%
$75K-$100K
15.1%
$100K-$125K
11.3%
$125K-$150K
6.4%
$150K-$200K
10.4%
$200K+
6.4%

Employment

2.9% Unemployment Rate State: 3.9%|National: 5.2%
64.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.2%
Renter 22.8%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.2x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $809/mo 13.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

14out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Ottawa County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Minneapolis2,043$57,70210.2%$143,800
Bennington651$74,37517.2%$156,400
Delphos320$58,82422.5%$63,200
Tescott235$68,25018.7%$110,100
Niles84N/A0.0%$202,800
Culver83N/A7.2%N/A
Ada67$105,2089.0%$127,100
Wells10N/A40.0%N/A

Population Overview

Ottawa County is located in Kansas with a total population of 5,819. It is the 59th most populous county out of 105 in Kansas. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ottawa County is 42.4 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 37.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ottawa County is $74,018. This is about the same as the state median of $74,275. It is also 8% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.4%. This is 8% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 2.9%. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $166,000. Housing costs are 24% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Ottawa County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Ottawa County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.3%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 5.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.3%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

27.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 22% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Ottawa County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Kansas and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Ottawa County, Kansas?

Ottawa County has a population of 5,819, making it the 59th most populous county in Kansas.

What is the median income in Ottawa County?

The median household income in Ottawa County is $74,018 with a poverty rate of 10.4%.

How many cities are in Ottawa County, Kansas?

Ottawa County contains 8 Census-designated places.