Demographics & People — Ottawa, Illinois
Population Overview
| Population (Census) | 18,714 |
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| Estimated 2026 | ~17,800 |
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| Median Age | 39.8 |
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| Total Households | 7,557 |
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| Family Households | 4,577 |
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| Average Household Size | 2.42 |
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| Diversity Index | 0.241 (somewhat diverse) |
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Race & Ethnicity
| White | 16,717 |
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| Black or African American | 537 |
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| Asian | 213 |
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| Hispanic or Latino | 1,850 |
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Heritage & Ancestry
| Group | Count |
|---|
| Unclassified or not reported | 5,441 |
| German | 4,591 |
| Irish | 3,808 |
| Other groups | 2,989 |
| Hispanic: Hispanic or Latino | 1,988 |
| English | 1,962 |
| Hispanic: Mexican | 1,694 |
| Italian | 1,242 |
| Polish | 1,134 |
| American | 763 |
Language
| English Only | 16,531 |
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| Spanish | 740 |
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| Population 5+ | 17,580 |
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Veterans
| Veterans | 996 |
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| Population 18+ | 14,262 |
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Commuting
| Mean Commute Time | 22.7 minutes |
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| Work from Home | 5.2% |
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| Commuter Profile | N/A |
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Source: Census ACS 5-Year 2023; Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003; Census ACS 5-Year 2023, B19013. Data for Ottawa, Illinois.
