Ottawa County, Ohio Demographics 2026

Name: Ottawa County, Ohio Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Ottawa County, Ohio has a population of 39,994, the 62nd most populous county in Ohio. The median household income is $76,101 and the median home value is $219,900. The poverty rate is 8.4%.

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

Ottawa County Quick Facts

Population 39,994

Median Household Income $76,101

Median Home Value $219,900

Poverty Rate 8.4%

Unemployment Rate 3.1%

Median Age 50.6 years

Homeownership Rate 83.6%

Affordability Ratio 2.9x

Bachelor's Degree+ 29.5%

High School Graduation 94.4%

Cities/Places 9

Population 39,994 62nd of 88

Median Income $76,101 7% higher than state

Poverty Rate 8.4%

Unemployment 3.1%

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.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	40,161	39,994	-0.4%
Median household income	$75,728	$76,101	+0.5%
Median home value	$200,700	$219,900	+9.6%

Median Household Income

Ottawa

$76,101

$71,389

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Ottawa

$219,900

$214,800

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 12.8%

$25K-$50K 18.9%

$50K-$100K 30.9%

$100K+ 37.3%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.3%

$10K-$15K

3.3%

$15K-$20K

2.3%

$20K-$25K

4.0%

$25K-$30K

3.1%

$30K-$35K

3.8%

$35K-$40K

4.0%

$40K-$45K

4.3%

$45K-$50K

3.7%

$50K-$60K

7.0%

$60K-$75K

10.6%

$75K-$100K

13.4%

$100K-$125K

11.8%

$125K-$150K

7.2%

$150K-$200K

10.3%

$200K+

8.1%

Employment

3.1% Unemployment Rate State: 4.8%|National: 5.2%

57.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 83.6%

Renter 16.4%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.9x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $930/mo 14.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

17.5%

18-34

16.1%

35-54

22.2%

55-74

32.6%

75+

11.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 41 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Ottawa County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Port Clinton	5,970	$60,909	17.5%	$152,300
Oak Harbor	2,314	$46,211	5.7%	$142,200
Genoa	1,872	$65,550	7.7%	$144,100
Marblehead	876	$96,250	2.3%	$376,400
Lakeside	508	$92,500	5.6%	$445,200
Clay Center	388	$61,875	14.4%	$118,400
Williston	287	$46,731	29.4%	$161,500
Rocky Ridge	282	$78,906	10.9%	$97,100
Put-in-Bay	126	$63,750	7.5%	$450,000

Explore Ohio Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Ottawa County is located in Ohio with a total population of 39,994. It is the 62nd most populous county out of 88 in Ohio. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ottawa County is 50.6 years. This is 27% higher than the state median of 39.7 years. 11.6% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ottawa County is $76,101. This is 7% higher than the state median of $71,389. It is also 6% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.4%. This is 37% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 35% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $219,900. Housing costs are 2% higher than the state median of $214,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Ottawa County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 83.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Ottawa County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.3%. The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 12.0%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

29.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 6% lower than the state rate of 31.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.4%.

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 Ohio 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, Ohio?

Ottawa County has a population of 39,994, making it the 62nd most populous county in Ohio.

What is the median income in Ottawa County?

The median household income in Ottawa County is $76,101 with a poverty rate of 8.4%.

How many cities are in Ottawa County, Ohio?

Ottawa County contains 9 Census-designated places.