Population 73 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Ottumwa
Household size in Ottumwa
| Period | Ottumwa | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.20 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.66 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.70 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.52 | 2.48 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.32 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The average household in Ottumwa has 2.52 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. That is in line with the rest of South Dakota. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.20, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Ottumwa
| Period | Ottumwa | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 53.1 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.2 | 38.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.7 | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.7 | 38.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | −10.4 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Ottumwa is 42.7 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Ottumwa
| Period | Ottumwa | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.3% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 0.5% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 2.3% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.0% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 1.0% of households in Ottumwa, well below the national share of 11.6%.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Ottumwa
Renters in Ottumwa
| Period | Ottumwa | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.6% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.5% | 32.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.9% | 32.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.3% | 31.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Ottumwa is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 66.8% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Ottumwa
| Period | Ottumwa | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.8% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.0% | 10.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 24.1% | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.0% | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 24.0% of the housing in Ottumwa, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Ottumwa
| Period | Ottumwa | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1977 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +9 | +6 |
Homes in Ottumwa run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1974 against 1980.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Ottumwa
| Period | Ottumwa | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $475 | $631 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $713 | $692 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $701 | $798 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $378 | $1,000 | $1,571 |
| Change | −$97 | +$369 | +$606 |
Rent in Ottumwa runs $378 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent takes 9.0% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Ottumwa
Bachelor's degrees in Ottumwa
| Period | Ottumwa | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.5% | 26.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.5% | 27.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.9% | 29.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.2% | 32.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Ottumwa than nationally: 26.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Ottumwa
| Period | Ottumwa | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.7% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.3% | 91.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.5% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.8% | 93.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.2 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Ottumwa: 96.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Ottumwa
| Period | Ottumwa | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.7% | 4.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 0.8% | 4.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 0.7% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.0% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The survey found almost no one in Ottumwa out of work and looking, against 5.4% of the labor force nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Ottumwa compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottumwa | 2.52 | 42.7 | 1.0% | 18.3% | 24.0% | 1974 | $378 | 26.2% | 96.8% | 0.0% |
| Philip | 2.35 | 50.1 | 0.7% | 22.9% | 22.6% | 1976 | $581 | 17.4% | 96.1% | 0.0% |
| Stamford | 2.50 | 44.9 | 3.4% | 14.7% | 32.3% | 1986 | $746 | 27.4% | 91.3% | 0.0% |
| Nowlin | 2.63 | 39.2 | 6.0% | 25.4% | 28.2% | 1974 | $516 | 23.3% | 94.2% | 0.0% |
| Midland | 2.54 | 42.4 | 1.8% | 18.6% | 24.9% | 1975 | $415 | 26.1% | 96.2% | 0.1% |
| Moenville | 2.52 | 42.7 | 1.0% | 18.3% | 24.0% | 1974 | $378 | 26.2% | 96.8% | 0.0% |
| Milesville | 2.52 | 42.7 | 1.0% | 18.3% | 24.0% | 1974 | $378 | 26.2% | 96.8% | 0.0% |
| Philip Junction | 2.68 | 37.7 | 9.1% | 30.7% | 30.7% | 1975 | $622 | 20.6% | 92.5% | 0.0% |
| Capa | 2.76 | 38.9 | 9.3% | 19.3% | 31.9% | 1981 | $708 | 27.7% | 91.2% | 1.3% |
| Hayes | 2.49 | 46.2 | 4.8% | 11.5% | 36.9% | 1992 | $952 | 28.2% | 88.2% | 0.0% |
| Cottonwood | 2.67 | 38.0 | 7.6% | 27.8% | 29.6% | 1975 | $562 | 22.3% | 93.3% | 0.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Randolph, MO · Regina, MT · Reggio, LA · Regency, TX · Redland, FL · Red Star, AR · Red House, NY · Red Bluff, MT · Rattan, TX · Randsburg, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Ottumwa. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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