What are the schools like in Ottumwa, IA?

Ottumwa is served primarily by Ottumwa Comm School District. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.1:1.

What is the median household income in Ottumwa?

The median household income in Ottumwa, IA is $53,085 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.5%.

What is the weather like in Ottumwa, IA?

Ottumwa has an average high temperature of 32.0°F in January and 85.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 23.6 inches.

Ottumwa, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Ottumwa, IA affordable or expensive?

Ottumwa's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ottumwa is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $88,800 and the median rent is $915 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Ottumwa, IA?

Ottumwa has a violent crime rate of 397.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2616.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ottumwa, IA a Good Place to Live?

Ottumwa is a small city of 25,359 in Iowa, with a median household income of $53,085 and a 4.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Ottumwa stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Ottumwa is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Ottumwa city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 89.0

Ottumwa's overall cost of living index is 89.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ottumwa costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Ottumwa, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$88,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$915	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	58.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$53,085	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Ottumwa's violent crime rate is 397.1 per 100,000 residents — 5% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

397.1 /100k

Property Crime

2616.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Ottumwa is served primarily by Ottumwa Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Ottumwa, IA	National Avg
School District	Ottumwa Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	86.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ottumwa sees average highs of 32.0°F in January and 85.7°F in July, with 37.0 inches of annual precipitation and 23.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ottumwa, IA
Average High — January	32.0°F
Average High — July	85.7°F
Annual Precipitation	37.0"
Annual Snowfall	23.6"

Demographics

Metric	Ottumwa, IA	National Avg
Population	25,359	—
Median Age	36.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	81.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.2%	18.9%
Asian	2.0%	6.3%
Under 18	23.8%	22.2%
65 and over	15.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Agency, IA 6 mi Chillicothe, IA 7 mi Kirkville, IA 9 mi Blakesburg, IA 12 mi Floris, IA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Ottumwa

Ottumwa, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

52501

Ottumwa vs Other Cities

Ottumwa, IA vs Agency, IA Ottumwa, IA vs Chillicothe, IA Ottumwa, IA vs Kirkville, IA Ottumwa, IA vs Blakesburg, IA Ottumwa, IA vs Floris, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ottumwa, IA affordable or expensive?

Ottumwa's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Ottumwa roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $88,800 and median rent is $915/month.

What is the crime rate in Ottumwa, IA?

Ottumwa's violent crime rate is 397.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2616.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Ottumwa?

Public schools in Ottumwa are operated by Ottumwa Comm School District. The district has 7 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1. 19.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Ottumwa, IA a good place to live?

Ottumwa, IA has a population of 25,359, a median household income of $53,085, and an unemployment rate of 4.5%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Ottumwa?

Ottumwa averages 32.0°F in January and 85.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.0 inches with about 23.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Ottumwa?

Ottumwa, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52501.

What is the population of Ottumwa?

The population of Ottumwa, Iowa is 25,359 with a median age of 36.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Ottumwa?

Key numbers for living in Ottumwa: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $88,800, median household income $53,085, crime index 113 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ottumwa side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.