Ottawa County, MI Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Ottawa County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 299,474 | 9,970,748 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 183.7 | 103.1 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.90% | 0.18% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 36.8 | 40.1 | 37.1 |
| Households | 110,019 | 4,038,037 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Ottawa County grew by 9.7% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 298,614 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Ottawa County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Ottawa County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $87,838 | $71,353 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.20% | 4.94% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Ottawa County is about 23% higher than in Michigan.
Housing
| Metric | Ottawa County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $227,433 | $134,610 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,148 | $1,084 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.5% | 72.9% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Ottawa County is about 16.5 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,148 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Ottawa County spend about 36 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 151 hours, about 6.3 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Ottawa County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 18.2 | 21.4 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 36.3 | 42.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 151 | 179 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,692 | $5,537 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 12.0% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 10,218 | 8,204 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,272 | 1,585 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Michigan:
Luce County (10.8 min), Dickinson County (12.6 min), Baraga County (13.1 min).
Slowest:
Lapeer County (31.2 min), Livingston County (30.1 min), Barry County (27.7 min).
The average commute time in Ottawa County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Ottawa County has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Ottawa County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.9% | 28.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.62 | 2.43 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Michigan:
Washtenaw County (0.4), Oakland County (0.4), Leelanau County (0.4).
Lowest:
Lake County (0.2), Oscoda County (0.2), Kalkaska County (0.2).
Health
Ottawa County has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | Ottawa County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 81.0 | 78.3 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 11.4% | 16.4% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 16.3% | 20.9% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Michigan:
Washtenaw County (0.8), Ottawa County (0.8), Livingston County (0.8).
Lowest:
Clare County (0.8), Oscoda County (0.8), Lake County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Ottawa County, Michigan.
What is the population of Ottawa County, Michigan?
The population of Ottawa County, Michigan is 299,474, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Ottawa County, Michigan?
The population density of Ottawa County, Michigan is 183.7 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Ottawa County, Michigan?
The median household income in Ottawa County, Michigan is $87,838, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Ottawa County, Michigan?
The median home price in Ottawa County, Michigan is $227,433, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Ottawa County, Michigan?
The unemployment rate in Ottawa County, Michigan is 3.6%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.