The typical owner-occupied home in Ottawa is worth about $166,500, 23% below the Kansas median of $217,200 and 50% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,010 a year in property taxes, about 1.81% of their home's value, higher than the Kansas rate of 1.29%. The median household earns $71,699 a year, so the median home costs 2.3 times the median income (2.9 times for Kansas). 60% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 64% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Ottawa at a glance
| Ottawa | Kansas | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $166,500 | $217,200 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $3,010 | $2,798 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.81% | 1.29% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $71,699 | $74,275 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 60% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 64% | 57% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,583 | $1,689 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 21.0% | 19.4% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,032 | $1,060 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 25.0% | 27.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1967 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 6.3% | 9.2% | 10.1% |
| Population | 12,678 | 2,947,197 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Ottawa
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Ottawa home of $166,500 with 20% down costs about $1,217 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,494, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $52,138 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 20% of the median Ottawa household income of $71,699; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $229,000.
The median rent here is $1,032 a month, so owning the median home costs about $185 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $33,300 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $133,200 |
| Principal and interest | $896 |
| Property taxes (1.81% a year) | $251 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $69 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,217 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $5,828 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $163,484 |
| Principal and interest | $1,100 |
| Property taxes (1.81% a year) | $251 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $69 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $74 |
| Total per month | $1,494 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Ottawa
What is the median home value in Ottawa?
About $166,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Ottawa?
Homeowners pay a median $3,010 a year, which is about 1.81% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Ottawa?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,217 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $52,138 a year.
More about Ottawa
- Mortgage Refinance in Ottawa
- Debt Relief in Ottawa
- Home Equity Loans in Ottawa
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data