Ottawa County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Ottawa County is located in Michigan with a total population of 298,614. It is the 7th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ottawa County is 36.3 years. This is 9% lower than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ottawa County is $87,144. This is 22% higher than the state median of $71,149. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 11% higher. The poverty rate stands at 8.2%. This is 37% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.1%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 38% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $291,200. Housing costs are 34% higher than the state median of $217,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 78.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 72.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Ottawa County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.1%. The Black or African American population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 13.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (10.1% vs 5.7%).

Education

37.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 18% higher than the state rate of 31.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.1%.