Cost of Living in Ottawa County, Kansas
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Ottawa County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Ottawa County ranks #1,621 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 48%)
Sourced county brief
Official Rent-to-Income Percentage in Ottawa County is 27.2%
The official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) in Ottawa County, Kansas, was 27.2% during the 2020-2024 period. This official B25071 estimate is 2.6 percentage points above the Kansas unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 24.6%. The median gross rent in the county was $809 per month, which is slightly higher than the state unweighted county mean of $802. Renter households in Ottawa County had an estimated median income of $40,521. Among homeowners, the median home value was $166,000, exceeding the Kansas unweighted county mean of $138,825. Median selected monthly owner costs for owner-occupied units were $977, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $861. The GRAPI figure is the canonical measure for the median percentage of income allocated to gross rent by renter households. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Ottawa County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.2% of renter household income in Ottawa County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $809 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $977. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $32,360 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Kansas unweighted mean of county median rents is $802 per month. Ottawa County's $809 median is 0.8% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Ottawa County
Rent Burden
13.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,727
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.8%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Ottawa County
Median home value is $166,000. Estimated monthly cost: $1,325 vs. your max of $1,727.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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