Ottawa County, Ohio Income Statistics
Ottawa County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Ottawa County Around averageWealthier than 87% of counties in Ohio
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Ottawa County | Ohio Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $76,272 | $71,509 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $60,917 | $58,431 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.3% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.9% | 11.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.1% | 9.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Ottawa County is about 7% higher than in Ohio. Income has been growing slower in Ottawa County (4.3%/yr) than in Ohio (4.4%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Ottawa County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Ohio average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Ottawa County, Ohio grew by 43.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $76,272 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Ottawa County
| Metric | Ottawa County | Ohio Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.497 | 0.532 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $75,195 | $67,200 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $52,833 | $54,076 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 29.7% | 19.5% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Ottawa County, it is 0.497, lower than Ohio's 0.532, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 42% more than women's income in Ottawa County, Ohio. Over a 35-year career, a 42% wage gap accumulates to roughly $782,670 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Ottawa County, Ohio has narrowed from about 37% to 30% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 38% in 2011, and was narrowest at 22% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,481 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Ottawa County | Ohio Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.8% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 604 people are unemployed in Ottawa County, Ohio.
The average commute time in Ottawa County is 21 minutes, about the same as in Ohio.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Ottawa County, Ohio has fallen from 7.2% to 3.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 2.9% in 2023.
Ottawa County, OH Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Ottawa County, OH is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 39,994 residents against a local median of 74,571. Ottawa County, OH's unemployment, at 3.1%, runs 39% below the 5.1% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.7% on unemployment, so Ottawa County, OH sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Ottawa County, OH has the lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa County, OH | 39,994 | $76,272 #2/6 | 4.3%/yr #3/6 | 3.1% #1/6 | 0.497 #1/6 |
| Sandusky County, OH | 58,778 | $62,362 | 3.1%/yr | 4.3% | 0.510 |
| Lucas County, OH | 427,836 | $62,969 | 4.8%/yr | 6.3% | 0.533 |
| Erie County, OH | 74,571 | $71,843 | 5.1%/yr | 5.3% | 0.504 |
| Seneca County, OH | 54,770 | $67,059 | 4.1%/yr | 3.6% | 0.504 |
| Monroe County, MI | 155,488 | $77,773 | 3.9%/yr | 5.1% | 0.524 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Ottawa County, Ohio has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Ohio, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Ottawa County, Ohio.
How Wealthy Is Ottawa County, Ohio?
Ottawa County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $76,272, about 7% higher than the Ohio average of $71,509.
How has median household income changed in Ottawa County, Ohio?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Ottawa County, Ohio rose 44%, from $53,107 to $76,272. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Ohio as a whole: +44% against +51%.
What was the median household income in Ottawa County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Ottawa County, Ohio was $75,734, up 8% from $70,111 in 2022. The Ohio median that year was $69,792.
What was the median household income in Ottawa County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Ottawa County, Ohio was $59,522. By 2024 it had risen 28% to $76,272.
Is it hard to find a job in Ottawa County, Ohio?
Unemployment in Ottawa County, Ohio is only 3.1%, well below the Ohio rate of 4.8%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Ottawa County, Ohio?
The Gini coefficient in Ottawa County is 0.497. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Ottawa County, Ohio?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Ottawa County, Ohio has narrowed from about 37% to 30% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 38% in 2011, and was narrowest at 22% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,481 since 2009.
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