1st Advantage MortgageOttawa County households have a median income of $49,947 and median rent of $788 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Ottawa County at a glance
- Housing costs in Ottawa County
- Household income in Ottawa County
- The Ottawa County job picture
- Ottawa County next to its neighbors
- Ottawa County towns compared
- Ottawa County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Reading the Ottawa County data as a borrower
- Room for a loan payment in Ottawa County
- Checklist for Ottawa County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Ottawa County
- More guides for Ottawa County
- Frequently asked questions
Ottawa County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Ottawa County's population at 30,341; only 31 of Oklahoma's 77 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 471 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 64 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Ottawa County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Miami is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 12,926 people (43% of the county total).
Housing costs in Ottawa County
Renters in Ottawa County pay a median of $788 a month, 22% below the Oklahoma figure of $1,014. By the Census definition, 46% of Ottawa County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $123,300, or 2.5 years of median income. The ownership rate is 68%. Half the housing stock was built before 1974.
| Housing | Ottawa County | Oklahoma statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $788/mo | $1,014/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $123,300 | $199,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 24% | n/a |
Household income in Ottawa County
Half of Ottawa County households take in less than $49,947 a year and half take in more, 23% below the Oklahoma median of $65,039. That places it 64th among Oklahoma's 77 county-level areas.
| Band | Ottawa County | Compared with Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.7% | +9.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.0% | +3.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 14.8% | -8.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.5% | -4.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 17% of Ottawa County households make $100,000 or more, and 36% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 20.9%, 6 points higher than the state's 15.3%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Ottawa County median.
The Ottawa County job picture
The biggest employer of Ottawa County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by arts, lodging and food service (14%). The sharpest difference from the state is in arts, lodging and food service, at 14% locally and 9% for Oklahoma. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. 6.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Ottawa County | Gap to Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.0% | +1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 14.2% | +5.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.0% | +3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -1.7 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | 0.0 pts |
| Public administration | 6.3% | +0.1 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 next to its neighbors
Craig County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Jasper County, is 36 miles off. Newton County leads the group on income ($66,301), Craig County trails ($51,922), and Ottawa County out-earns 0 of the six. Some neighbors are in Kansas and Missouri. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Ottawa County resident follows Oklahoma rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa County | - | $49,947 | $788/mo | 68% |
| Craig County, OK | 23 mi | $51,922 | $810/mo | 74% |
| Cherokee County, KS | 23 mi | $57,668 | $799/mo | 76% |
| Newton County, MO | 26 mi | $66,301 | $817/mo | 77% |
| McDonald County, MO | 29 mi | $52,375 | $767/mo | 67% |
| Delaware County, OK | 31 mi | $56,676 | $913/mo | 77% |
| Jasper County, MO | 36 mi | $60,694 | $973/mo | 63% |
Ottawa County towns compared
10 Census places fall mainly inside Ottawa County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 19,090 residents, leaving about 37% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Afton has the highest median household income on the list ($56,875) and Commerce the lowest ($34,817), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $692 in Commerce to $835 in Miami. This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | city | 12,926 | $46,410 | $835 | 5 mi |
| Commerce | city | 2,212 | $34,817 | $692 | 8 mi |
| Fairland | town | 1,207 | $42,625 | $750 | 6 mi |
| Afton | town | 762 | $56,875 | $773 | 13 mi |
| Quapaw | town | 728 | $40,000 | $709 | 8 mi |
| Wyandotte | town | 465 | $42,500 | $408 | 5 mi |
| North Miami | town | 268 | $45,625 | $1,042 | 7 mi |
| Dotyville | CDP | 248 | $71,250 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Narcissa | CDP | 167 | $68,977 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Peoria | town | 107 | $28,796 | $681 | 9 mi |
Ottawa County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 15% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 15.9%, against 12.9% for Oklahoma.
| Ottawa County | Oklahoma | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 37.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.0% | 28.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.3% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.9% | 12.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 9.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.9% | 15.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 5.0% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.5% |
| 60+ min | 4.3% |
Reading the Ottawa County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Ottawa County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Health costs. With 16% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Mobile home upkeep. 12% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- 21% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- 46% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Room for a loan payment in Ottawa County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Ottawa County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $4,162 gross per month ($49,947 / 12)
- Less median rent of $788, which is 19% of it
- Under a 40% cap, $1,665 total minus rent leaves $877
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Ottawa County's.
Checklist for Ottawa County applicants
Quick steps for Ottawa County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Licensing and complaints for Ottawa County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Ottawa County, check the Oklahoma State Banking Department. Consumer lending in Oklahoma is also overseen by the Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Oklahoma guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Ottawa County
For statewide rules and data, see the Oklahoma guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Ottawa County?
$49,947 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $65,039 for Oklahoma. It ranks 64th of 77 in the state.
What do renters pay in Ottawa County?
$788 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Ottawa County?
By population: Miami, Commerce, Fairland, Afton, Quapaw. The county has 10 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Ottawa County or elsewhere in Oklahoma, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Ottawa County residents?
The Oklahoma State Banking Department licenses consumer lenders in Oklahoma; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.