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Ottumwa, IA
City in Wapello County, Iowa.
Population
25,430
Land area
16.1sq mi
People per sq mi
1,583
ZIP codes
0
Ottumwa and its ZIP codes
Ottumwa at a glance
- Ottumwa is about 28 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- It is the 19th most populous of 1,017 cities and towns in Iowa.
- Households here earn a median of $61,103 a year, 19% less than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $106,300 (49% below Iowa) and median rent is $921 a month.
Local data for Ottumwa, IA
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes3
- Schools14
- Colleges1
- Libraries1
- Banks5
- Post Offices1
- Parks17
- Grocery Stores11
- Restaurants81
- Affordable Housing2
- Home Health Agencies1
- Hospice Care2
- Dialysis Centers2
- Rehab & Long-Term Care Hospitals1
- Community Health Centers8
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment5
- Private Schools2
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Superfund Sites1
- Toxic Release Facilities4
- Historic Places17
Housing and community stats
Ottumwa, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$61,103
Poverty rate
17.2%
Median home value
$106,300
Median rent
$921/mo
Homeownership
61.7%
Bachelor's or higher
20.8%
Median age
36.7
Average commute
17.8 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (3,593), Mexican Americans (2,337), Irish Americans (2,134).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Wapello County. PPP loans are for Ottumwa.
Unemployment rate
4.1%
Sep 2026, -0.7 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$53,838
15,248 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$48,623
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$215M
FY 2026, $6,060 per person
How people get to work
Ottumwa, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone77.1%
- Carpooled14.1%
- Public transit1.2%
- Walked1.1%
- Bicycle0.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other2.0%
- Worked from home4.3%
Average one-way commute: 17.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Ottumwa, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
662
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
23
0.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
86° / 14°F
37.0 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone17 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Ottumwa, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
41.9%
U.S. 33.3% +8.6 pts
Diabetes
13.3%
U.S. 12.1% +1.2 pts
Smoking
18.7%
U.S. 12.8% +5.9 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
11.2%
U.S. 11.1% about the same
Cities near Ottumwa
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| AgencyCity | 5.9 mi | 0.6 |
| ChillicotheCity | 7.3 mi | 0.2 |
| KirkvilleCity | 9 mi | 0.6 |
| HedrickCity | 11 mi | 1.6 |
| FlorisCity | 12 mi | 0.6 |
| FremontCity | 13 mi | 1.1 |
| BlakesburgCity | 13 mi | 0.3 |
| EldonCity | 13 mi | 1.1 |
| BataviaCity | 13 mi | 0.6 |
| MartinsburgCity | 13 mi | 0.4 |
| EddyvilleCity | 15 mi | 1.1 |
| DrakesvilleCity | 16 mi | 0.2 |
| HayesvilleCity | 18 mi | 0.3 |
| PackwoodCity | 19 mi | 0.7 |
| Keomah VillageCity | 19 mi | 0.1 |
| LibertyvilleCity | 20 mi | 0.5 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Ottumwa, IA in?
- Ottumwa is in Wapello County, Iowa.
- What is the population of Ottumwa, IA?
- About 25,430 people live in Ottumwa, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Ottumwa?
- Nearby places include Agency (5.9 mi), Chillicothe (7.3 mi), Kirkville (9 mi), Hedrick (11 mi), Floris (12 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023