1st Advantage MortgageOttawa County households have a median income of $90,502 and median rent of $1,211 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Michigan before sharing details.
On this page
- Ottawa County, MI: the basics
- What it costs to live in Ottawa County
- Household income in Ottawa County
- Employment and commuting in Ottawa County
- Ottawa County and the counties next door
- Places inside Ottawa County
- Ottawa County households compared
- Reading the Ottawa County data as a borrower
- A Ottawa County household budget, worked through
- Four steps for Ottawa County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Ottawa County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Ottawa County, MI: the basics
Roughly 301,203 residents live in Ottawa County, Michigan, 7th by population among the state's 83 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 564 square miles, that is close to 535 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 12 places in the county (7 incorporated, 5 census-designated); the largest is Holland, with about 34,423 residents, or 11% of the county.
What it costs to live in Ottawa County
A typical Ottawa County rental runs $1,211 a month including utilities, which is 7% above Michigan. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 49% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $323,400, about 3.6 times the median household income. Owners occupy 79% of homes. Median construction year: 1988.
| Home costs | Ottawa County | Michigan | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,211/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $323,400 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 23% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Household income in Ottawa County
The median household income in Ottawa County is $90,502; statewide it is $72,875, so Ottawa County runs 24% above Michigan as a whole. In the state ranking that is 4th of 83.
| Income band | Share in Ottawa County | Difference from Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.6% | -7.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.0% | -1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.5% | +6.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.9% | +2.4 pts |
About 16% of households earn under $35,000, while 44% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 8.3%, 5 points lower than the state's 13.2%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.428 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Ottawa County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Ottawa County
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Ottawa County residents work in education and health care and 22% in manufacturing. Compared with Michigan, the county leans toward manufacturing (22% against 18%). The survey's unemployment rate for Ottawa County averages 3.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.7%). About 77% drive to work alone and 7% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Ottawa County | Difference from Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.3% | -0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 22.2% | +4.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.7% | -1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.4% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 5.9% | 0.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Ottawa County and the counties next door
Muskegon County is closest, 28 miles from center to center; the sixth, Van Buren County, is 54 miles off. Income ranges from $62,417 in Oceana County to $83,283 in Allegan County; none of these neighbors top Ottawa County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa County | - | $90,502 | $1,211/mo | 79% |
| Muskegon County, MI | 28 mi | $65,024 | $1,028/mo | 78% |
| Kent County, MI | 34 mi | $82,631 | $1,243/mo | 70% |
| Oceana County, MI | 40 mi | $62,417 | $759/mo | 84% |
| Newaygo County, MI | 41 mi | $63,304 | $904/mo | 87% |
| Allegan County, MI | 44 mi | $83,283 | $1,100/mo | 87% |
| Van Buren County, MI | 54 mi | $68,114 | $870/mo | 81% |
Places inside Ottawa County
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Ottawa County, by population. Together all 12 hold about 117,688 people, so roughly 61% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $52,628 in Zeeland to $150,438 in Lamont. None of the 12 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holland | city | 34,423 | $75,865 | $1,193 | 21 mi |
| Allendale | CDP | 26,679 | $70,150 | $1,111 | 15 mi |
| Jenison | CDP | 17,582 | $89,593 | $2,306 | 22 mi |
| Grand Haven | city | 10,996 | $60,669 | $939 | 0 mi |
| Hudsonville | city | 7,769 | $91,280 | $1,264 | 22 mi |
| Zeeland | city | 5,665 | $52,628 | $951 | 20 mi |
| Coopersville | city | 4,848 | $67,131 | $943 | 14 mi |
| Ferrysburg | city | 2,959 | $70,400 | $1,257 | 2 mi |
| Beechwood | CDP | 2,776 | $71,275 | $871 | 18 mi |
| Spring Lake | village | 2,519 | $88,365 | $1,079 | 2 mi |
| Lamont | CDP | 1,177 | $150,438 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Nunica | CDP | 295 | $60,515 | n/a | 8 mi |
Ottawa County households compared
College graduates make up 39% of the adult population. About 3% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Ottawa County | Michigan statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 38.9% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.6% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.3% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.7% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.3% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.1% |
| 60+ min | 2.5% |
Reading the Ottawa County data as a borrower
What the Ottawa County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Six-figure budgets. For the 44% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Rent squeeze. 49% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Ottawa County borrower sees (free reports).
A Ottawa County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Ottawa County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,542 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $1,211 uses 16%
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $2,032 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Four steps for Ottawa County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Michigan borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Licensing and complaints for Ottawa County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Ottawa County, check the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Michigan: Michigan personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Michigan guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Ottawa County household make?
About $90,502 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 24% above the Michigan median.
Is Ottawa County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,211 against $1,129 statewide, and 49% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Ottawa County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 12 Census places: Holland, Allendale, Jenison, Grand Haven, Hudsonville.
Will a Ottawa County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Michigan as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Ottawa County residents?
The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services licenses consumer lenders in Michigan; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.