Below Average CostVery SafeLa Salle/Marshall/Putnam ROE
Ottawa IL Downtown1 · IvoShandor / CC BY-SA 3.0La Salle Street, Looking North, Ottawa, IL · Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domainVetsMemBridgeOttawaIL · Ken Gallager / CC BY-SA 4.0Ottawa IL Washington Park Historic District Site of first Lincoln-Douglas debate · IvoShandor / CC BY-SA 3.0
Ottawa is a small city of 18,708 in Illinois, with a median household income of $67,940
and a 6.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Ottawa stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Ottawa is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Ottawa 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: 93.8
Ottawa's overall cost of living index is 93.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Ottawa costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Ottawa, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$140,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$869
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
68.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$67,940
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Ottawa's violent crime rate is 186.9 per 100,000 residents
— 51% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
186.9 /100k
Property Crime
1495.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Ottawa is served primarily by La Salle/Marshall/Putnam ROE.
Metric
Ottawa, IL
National Avg
School District
La Salle/Marshall/Putnam ROE
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
5
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Ottawa sees average highs of 31.4°F in January
and 84.0°F in July,
with 40.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 25.0 inches of snow per year.
Ottawa's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Ottawa roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $140,200 and median rent is $869/month.
Ottawa's violent crime rate is 186.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1495.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Ottawa are operated by La Salle/Marshall/Putnam ROE.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and 5 high schools.
20.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Ottawa, IL has a population of 18,708, a median household income of $67,940, and an unemployment rate of 6.8%.
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.
Ottawa averages 31.4°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.1 inches
with about 25.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Ottawa, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61350.
The population of Ottawa, Illinois is 18,708 with a median age of 39.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Ottawa: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $140,200, median household income $67,940, crime index 58 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ottawa side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
