Ottumwa, Iowa
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B, better than 50% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade B, better than 54% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade F, better than 4% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 71% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 36% of US places
- top 6% for commute time
- top 15% for cost of living
- bottom 4% for property crime
Ottumwa is a mid-size city in Iowa with about 25,000 residents. It grades B+ for getting around and F for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include commute time, cost of living, and monthly owner costs. It rates lower on violent crime and property crime.
Official websitecityofottumwa.org (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
freez.
v.cold
cold
cool
comf.
warm
hot
warm
cool
cold
v.cold
74%51%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.6 in1.3 in
humid 94%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$53k33rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$43kbetter than 85% of US places
Home Value$89k18th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$915better than 50% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 78% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.88%better than 12% of US places
Income Tax6.00%better than 29% of US places
Sales Tax6.94%better than 68% of US places
Estimated total tax burden11.43%better than 32% of US places
Unemployment4.5%better than 44% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)23°F16th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)75°F45th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation37.0 in35th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall23.6 inbetter than 42% of US places
Sunny Days245 daysbetter than 63% of US places
Summer Humidity65°Fbetter than 41% of US places
Comfortable Days82 daysbetter than 50% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk64.2better than 52% of US places
Air Quality51 AQIbetter than 18% of US places
School Quality52.9better than 41% of US places
Violent Crime2380/100kbetter than 5% of US places
Property Crime3675/100kbetter than 4% of US places
Community
Population25,35994th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age36.729th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.3366th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0361st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+2450th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)73.7%34th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)4.1%74th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)14.9%81st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)1.9%79th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)5.4%74th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time18 minbetter than 94% of US places
Walkability8.4/20better than 77% of US places
Airport Distance170 mibetter than 13% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access80.3%better than 31% of US places
Amenities Nearby24.84better than 25% of US places
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 77% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Ottumwa an affordable place to live?
- Ottumwa is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $43k, better than 85% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Ottumwa?
- The median home value in Ottumwa is $89k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Ottumwa?
- Median household income in Ottumwa is $53k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Ottumwa?
- Median gross rent in Ottumwa is $915 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Ottumwa safe?
- Ottumwa is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 2380/100k (better than 5%). Property crime is 3675/100k.
- What is the weather like in Ottumwa?
- Ottumwa averages 75°F in July and 23°F in January, with 37.0 in of annual precipitation and about 245 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Ottumwa?
- Public-school quality in Ottumwa is about average, scoring better than 41% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Ottumwa?
- The average one-way commute in Ottumwa is 18 min.
Places near Ottumwa
Compare Ottumwa
Explore Iowa
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)