Median Age
38 Years
Largest Age Group
10-19 Years
Approximately 14% of Residents
Under 20
27%
Over 65
19%
Ottumwa
Ottumwa, IA Area Guide
Avg Rent
$691
Population
25,175
Renter Mix
36% Rent
A cozy riverside community bursting with Midwestern personality
Rural
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River
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Historic
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College
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Amtrak
•
Public Transportation
•
Parks
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Nature
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Golf
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Ottumwa is a small city in southeastern Iowa, spanning the banks of the Des Moines River. A coal boom in the late 19th century led to the construction of numerous beautiful buildings and bridges in town, many of which still stand and help give the city a timeless appearance. Downtown, historic favorites like Canteen Lunch in the Alley intermingle with hip and modern hangouts like Appanoose Rapids to give locals a wide selection of dining options amid the vintage storefronts. The huge Greater Ottumwa Park at the center of town offers 340 acres of greenspace with everything from sports facilities to campgrounds, creating a beautiful outdoor enclave that’s just minutes from anywhere in town.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$49,493
Average: $66,913
Education
3,857
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
11,772
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Ottumwa has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
36%
Non-Renters
64%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
13%
Other Education
87%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Ottumwa, IA is $528 for a studio, $691 for one bedroom, $770 for two bedrooms, and $816 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Ottumwa has increased by 0.7% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$691/month
740 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Ottumwa, IA is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
30
/ 100
Limited Public Transit
Transit
20
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
90
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
40
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
240 Students
Public
Grades K-5
238 Students
Public
Grades K-5
229 Students
Public
Grades K-5
430 Students
Public
Grades K-5
345 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
1,047 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,317 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
187 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Pioneer Ridge Nature Area And Nature Center
Commuter Rail
Military Bases
Top Apartments in Ottumwa
Houses for Rent in Ottumwa
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 February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.