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Ottawa, KS

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Ottawa, KS

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 21
Population12,632
Foreign Born0.8%
Population Density1,185people per mi²
Median Age36.5 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

72/100

28% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Ottawa, Kansas

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $15k$28k
Comfortable $32k$47k
Luxury $88k+$137k+
Elite (Top 5%) $104k+$161k+
Affordability Ratio

137%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean89%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
18
Positive
16
Poor
2
Negative
2

Groceries

3 within 10 miles

0.1mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

1.3mi

Airport

Ottawa Municipal Airport

5.3mi

Post Office

USPS — Ottawa, KS

0.2mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

Nearest private club or country club.

Golf1Nearest 0.9 mi
Camping20Nearest 18.8 mi
Marina0Nearest 17.8 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 37.6 mi
Gun Range1Nearest 0.2 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$65k+4.4%
14% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$294k
55% below US avg
College Educated
27.5%
21% below US avg
WFH
9.3%
35% below US avg
Homeownership
61.6%
6% below US avg
Median Home
$166k
41% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
A-
Very Safe

Lower crime rates than 79% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
13.2
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−28.2%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−42.1%
Homicide
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Robbery
0.16 / 1k Residents41% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
1.57 / 1k Residents51% below state avg

Property Crime

5yr−14.2%
Burglary
1.49 / 1k Residents36% below state avg
Larceny-Theft
9.09 / 1k Residents21% below state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
0.55 / 1k Residents71% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+2Tilts Liberal

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Ottawa, Kansas
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
D+
Weak11.2% of income
Property Rights
C+
FairIJ Grade C+
Firearm Rights
A+
GreatFPC Grade A+
Homeschooling
A+
GreatNo notice required

Energy independence: Self-sufficient (80% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A-
OpenFarm sales legal
Gambling Laws
B
Broadly OpenTribal · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
F
ProhibitedIllegal

Homesteading

Hardiness Zone6B~-2°F min
Growing Season194 days272 frost-free
Annual Rainfall45.3"
Elevation912 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
B
Defensible

Workable tactical position. Some exposure to population density or targets, but generally defensible in a crisis.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
B+
Good50 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,185/sq mi
Fallout Danger
A-
Good3 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
B-
FairInland Flooding
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 695 mi · coast 608 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$15.5M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityKansas City508k people are 50 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital37 miTopeka, KS
Nearest Prison23 mi1 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T08:51:03.000Z

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