Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Ottawa, OH Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

18,447

Median Agei

39.8

Race & Ethnicityi

White

82.6%15,229

Hispanic/Latino

10.1%1,861

Two or More

3.9%714

Black

2.5%458

Asian

1%184

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%1

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4.2%531

High School Diploma

28.5%3,592

Some College (<1 yr)

10.3%1,299

Some College (1+ yr)

15.9%2,006

Associate's Degree

9.5%1,196

Bachelor's Degree

16.6%2,099

Master's Degree

4.7%598

Professional Degree

1.2%149

Doctorate

0.7%87

HS or Higher

91.6%

BA or Higher

23.3%

Graduate+

6.6%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$154,000

Median Renti

$920

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

69.7%5,263

Renter-Occupied

30.3%2,290

Total Units

8,217

Homeownership

69.7%

Vacancy Rate

8.1%

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$71,413

Mean Household Incomei

$96,329

Per Capita Incomei

$40,071

Poverty Ratei

16.7%

Unemploymenti

6.9%

Labor Forcei

8,978

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

4.8%359

$10K–$15K

4.6%347

$15K–$20K

4.1%313

$20K–$25K

3.9%292

$25K–$30K

7.6%575

$30K–$35K

2.8%209

$35K–$40K

5.4%410

$40K–$45K

3.3%250

$45K–$50K

2.2%167

$50K–$60K

4.6%349

$60K–$75K

7.9%593

$75K–$100K

16.8%1,268

$100K–$125K

7.8%589

$125K–$150K

7.4%561

$150K–$200K

9.7%733

$200K+

7.1%538

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

542

Residentsi

824

Avg. Tenant Renti

$354/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

5 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing301 homes97% occupied$322/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers150 homes86% occupied$437/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 891 homes87% occupied$326/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $71,413/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $21K/yr

76.3%

Very low income$21K–$36K/yr

18%

Low income$36K–$57K/yr

5.7%

Who Receives This Housing

63.7% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

20.6% of subsidized households are minority

20% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

32.6% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

1,100(8% of civilian adults)