Moving to Ottawa
What you need to know before relocating to Ottawa, Illinois. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.
Is Ottawa a Good Place to Live?
Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Ottawa compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($869/mo) is below the national average; home prices ($148,600) are well below the us median; high school graduation rate of 92%.
Ottawa at a Glance
Cost of Living in Ottawa
The median rent in Ottawa is $869/month, while the median home value is $148,600. With a median household income of $70,313, residents spend roughly 15% of monthly income on rent.
Overall, the Ottawa metro area is classified as very affordable compared to other US metros.
Job Market
Ottawa has a median household income of $70,313, which is 6% below the national median. The local unemployment rate is 5.7%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.
Safety in Ottawa
The violent crime rate in Ottawa is 310 per 100,000 residents, which is 18% below the national average of 380.
Property crime rate: 1720 per 100,000 residents.
Education in Illinois
Illinois has a high school graduation rate of 92% and per-pupil spending of $21,829/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1.
39% of Illinois adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Healthcare Access
Illinois has 295 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 7.2% uninsured rate, and 2.7 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Illinois is 77.5 years.
Pros and Cons of Living in Ottawa
+Pros
- ✓Rent ($869/mo) is below the national average
- ✓Home prices ($148,600) are well below the US median
- ✓High school graduation rate of 92%
- ✓Low uninsured rate (7.2%) and good healthcare access
-Cons
- ✗Unemployment rate (5.7%) is above the national average
- ✗Longer-than-average commute (66535 min)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ottawa a good place to live?⌄
Ottawa, Illinois has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($869/mo) is below the national average and home prices ($148,600) are well below the us median. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.
What is the cost of living in Ottawa?⌄
The median rent in Ottawa is $869/month and the median home value is $148,600. The median household income is $70,313. Overall the metro is considered very affordable.
Is Ottawa safe?⌄
Ottawa has a violent crime rate of 310 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.
What is the job market like in Ottawa?⌄
Ottawa has an unemployment rate of 5.7%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $70,313.