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Living in
Ottumwa.
About
Life in Ottumwa
Ottumwa is a genuinely affordable place to live in the Midwest—homes median around $106,300 and rent averages $921 a month, which gives you real breathing room financially compared to most metros. Jobs exist here with a 4.3% unemployment rate, and the median household income of about $61,000 is solid for a city this size, though the college degree rate is relatively modest at 20.1%. The community has real roots: it was built on industrial foundations like John Deere and JBS meatpacking, and while those industries shape the economy, the city has diversified enough to support Indian Hills Community College and a genuine local culture.
Ottumwa at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.2%
Foreign-Born
13.5%
Broadband Internet
86.4%
of households
Population Growth
-0.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics13.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Ottumwa: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Ottumwa, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (22.2%), and 12.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.7%
of residents
65 and Older
16.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.4%
of households
Married Couples
40.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.47
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for IA
Rent, home values, and income in Ottumwa
In Ottumwa, home values are 49% below the IA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.2%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,855
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
61.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1955
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $121,448 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts above IA average
Unemployment in Ottumwa
Unemployment in Ottumwa is 0.8 percentage points higher than the IA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Ottumwa Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.8 min avg
How Ottumwa residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Ottumwa, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 80% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 64 mi
Kirksville Regional Airport (IRK)
Regional airport · few flights5,375 passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 17% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Ottumwa runs 17% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
272.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,206.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Ottumwa Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 7 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
65.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Wapello County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Wapello County, which includes Ottumwa, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 7 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15,000 |
| 2024 | 16 | Drought | None reported |
| 2023 | 18 | Drought | $2.0M |
| 2022 | 13 | Drought | None reported |
| 2021 | 13 | Heavy Rain | None reported |
| 2020 | 6 | Heavy Rain | None reported |
| 2019 | 24 | Flood | $619,000 |
| 2018 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $182,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Wapello County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Van Buren County, IA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 30 miles from Ottumwa) is typically good — 236 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
236
per year
Moderate Days
126
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Van Buren County, IA (30 mi away)
Climate84°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Ottumwa has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
37.0"
Annual Snowfall
23.6"
Hot Days/Year
19
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
131
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
109
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 14°F | 1.01" |
| Feb | 37°F | 18°F | 1.41" |
| Mar | 50°F | 29°F | 2.24" |
| Apr | 63°F | 39°F | 3.75" |
| May | 73°F | 51°F | 5.03" |
| Jun | 82°F | 61°F | 5.38" |
| Jul | 86°F | 65°F | 3.87" |
| Aug | 84°F | 62°F | 4.44" |
| Sep | 77°F | 53°F | 3.50" |
| Oct | 64°F | 42°F | 2.81" |
| Nov | 50°F | 30°F | 2.09" |
| Dec | 37°F | 20°F | 1.44" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Ottumwa
Ottumwa has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Ottumwa Regional Health Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Ottumwa
Ottumwa's student/teacher ratio is 15.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 20.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
20.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Ottumwa
Indian Hills Community College
Public · 2-year · 1,495 students · in-state tuition $5,232 · 43% graduate · median earnings $45,714 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 71 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Ottumwa
Ottumwa has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (71 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
National Historic Site
71 mi awayPublic Libraries in Ottumwa
Ottumwa Public Library
102 W 4th St, Ottumwa
Cities Near Ottumwa
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Ottumwa?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Ottumwa FAQ
Is Ottumwa, Iowa affordable?⌄
Ottumwa's median rent is $921/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $61,103/year. Median home value is $106,300.
Is Ottumwa, Iowa safe?⌄
Ottumwa's violent crime rate was 272 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2207 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Ottumwa, Iowa?⌄
Ottumwa has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Ottumwa, Iowa?⌄
The cost of living in Ottumwa is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $921/month and median household income is $61,103/year. The median home value is $106,300. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Ottumwa, Iowa?⌄
The average commute in Ottumwa is 18 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from