Ottumwa

Population: 25,352
Median household income: $56,994
Median home value: $92,400

Ottumwa, a community in Wapello County, Iowa, has 25,352 residents. Its median household income of $56,994 runs below the Wapello County figure of $60,034.

From 2019 to 2023, Ottumwa's population grew 3.3% from 24,545 to 25,352, while its median home value rose 24.7% from $74,100 to $92,400.

White (non-Hispanic) residents are the largest group, 71.0% of the population. 77.9% of workers drive to work alone.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 25,352
Median age: 37.4 yrs
Median household income: $56,994
Median home value: $92,400
Median gross rent: $956
Housing units: 11,525
Homeownership rate: 61.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 20.1%
Unemployment rate: 3.7%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

24,54525,352

Median household income

$41,722$56,994

Median home value

$74,100$92,400

Median gross rent

$727$956

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	24,545	$41,722	$74,100	$727
2020	24,505	$42,418	$75,800	$765
2021	25,379	$48,198	$77,000	$840
2022	25,359	$53,085	$88,800	$915
2023	25,352	$56,994	$92,400	$956

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 56.4%

5 to 1717.4%

18 to 249.2%

25 to 3413.8%

35 to 4411.0%

45 to 5412.8%

55 to 6413.0%

65 to 749.5%

75 and over6.9%

	Count	Share
Under 5	1,617	6.4%
5 to 17	4,416	17.4%
18 to 24	2,345	9.2%
25 to 34	3,501	13.8%
35 to 44	2,798	11.0%
45 to 54	3,245	12.8%
55 to 64	3,294	13.0%
65 to 74	2,398	9.5%
75 and over	1,738	6.9%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	17,998	71.0%
Black or African American	1,093	4.3%
American Indian & Alaska Native	4	0.0%
Asian	456	1.8%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	690	2.7%
Some other race	12	0.0%
Two or more races	943	3.7%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	4,156	16.4%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma14.4%

High school graduate36.6%

Some college or associate's29.0%

Bachelor's degree11.8%

Graduate or professional degree8.3%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	2,447	14.4%
High school graduate	6,207	36.6%
Some college or associate's	4,914	29.0%
Bachelor's degree	1,997	11.8%
Graduate or professional degree	1,409	8.3%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 17 min

Drove alone77.9%

Carpooled14.6%

Public transit0.5%

Walked1.2%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home3.7%

Other means2.1%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	9,116	77.9%
Carpooled	1,707	14.6%
Public transit	59	0.5%
Walked	143	1.2%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	430	3.7%
Other means	250	2.1%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	6,464	57.3%
15 to 29 min	2,916	25.9%
30 to 44 min	1,186	10.5%
45 to 59 min	298	2.6%
60+ min	411	3.6%

Households

Average household size: 2.41
Poverty rate: 18.9% (4,641 of 24,597)

	Count	Share
Family households	6,293	61.6%
Nonfamily households	3,920	38.4%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1955

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	10,213	88.6%
Vacant	1,312	11.4%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	6,255	61.2%
Renter-occupied	3,958	38.8%

1-unit, detached74.3%

1-unit, attached2.5%

2 to 4 units6.1%

5 to 19 units8.9%

20 or more units5.3%

Mobile home & other2.8%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	8,565	74.3%
1-unit, attached	286	2.5%
2 to 4 units	704	6.1%
5 to 19 units	1,031	8.9%
20 or more units	616	5.3%
Mobile home & other	323	2.8%

Geography

Place GEOID: 1960465
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 16 sq mi
Water area: 0.67 sq mi
Center point: 41.0223, -92.4233