Ottawa

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Ottawa, KS

Area Guide

A classic prairie town with Kansas’ most distinctive cities at arm’s reach

Historic Rural Historic College Safe Low Crime

Ottawa is a picturesque small city located 25 miles due south of Lawrence and about 50 miles from both Kansas City and Topeka. Downtown Ottawa follows Main Street between the Marais Des Cygnes River and City Park, creating a thriving business district amid the city’s beautifully preserved historic buildings. The private Ottawa University serves around 600 students at its main campus near the center of the city, with the surrounding neighborhoods offering countless rental options within just a short walk.

Rent Trends

As of September 2025, the average apartment rent in Ottawa, KS is $786 for one bedroom, $912 for two bedrooms, and $1,521 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Ottawa has increased by 2.7% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$786/month
681 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Ottawa, KS

Transportation

36

Car-Dependent

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

46

Somewhat Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.

Schools

Garfield Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

387 Students

Sunflower Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

359 Students

Lincoln Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

360 Students

Eugene Field Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

283 Students

Ottawa Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

498 Students

Ottawa Sr High

Public

Grades 6-12

727 Students

Ottawa Sr High

Public

Grades 6-12

727 Students

Points of Interest

Top Apartments in Ottawa

Houses for Rent in Ottawa

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in September 2025.