State rank#7 of 83
Smallest county301,203 residentsWayne County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 26139
Ottawa County, Michigan
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population301,203
Household income$90,502
Unemployment3.8%
Life expectancy80.1 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Ottawa County has 301,203 residents and ranks #7 by population among Michigan county equivalents. Median household income is $90,502. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3.8%. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Michigan
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Ottawa County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Ottawa County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $323,400 median home value and $1,211/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $90,502, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Ottawa County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, life expectancy, and median household income. College attainment is 38.9% and life expectancy is 80.1 years.
Potential advantages
- Unemployment rate: 3.8%, rank #3 of 83 available Michigan counties.
- Life expectancy: 80.1 years, rank #3 of 83 available Michigan counties.
- Median household income: $90,502, rank #4 of 83 available Michigan counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median home value: $323,400, rank #78 of 83; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median gross rent: $1,211/mo, rank #76 of 83; investigate local variation before moving.
- Primary care access: 1 per 1,511 residents, rank #32 of 82; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Michigan
Rank and range use only counties in Michigan with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$90,502
$90,502; above the state county median of $63,724.
State rank #4 of 83 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$323,400
$323,400; above the state county median of $178,300.
State rank #78 of 83 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,211/mo
$1,211/mo; above the state county median of $884/mo.
State rank #76 of 83 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
3.8%
3.8%; below the state county median of 5.4%.
State rank #3 of 83 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
38.9%
38.9%; above the state county median of 22.5%.
State rank #11 of 83 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
80.1 years
80.1 years; above the state county median of 76.3 years.
State rank #3 of 83 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
12.9%
12.9%; below the state county median of 17.3%.
State rank #10 of 83 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
4.6%
4.6%; below the state county median of 6.4%.
State rank #4 of 83 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,511 residents
1 per 1,511 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 2,008 residents.
State rank #32 of 82 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 360 residents
1 per 360 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 481 residents.
State rank #29 of 83 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Ottawa County FAQ
Is Ottawa County a good place to live?
Ottawa County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, life expectancy, and median household income. College attainment is 38.9% and life expectancy is 80.1 years.
What should I know before moving to Ottawa County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $323,400 median home value and $1,211/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $90,502, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Ottawa County?
Ottawa County has 301,203 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Ottawa County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 26139; the parent state FIPS is 26.
What is the median household income in Ottawa County?
The ACS median household income is $90,502.
How much does housing cost in Ottawa County?
Housing benchmarks are $323,400 median home value and $1,211/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $90,502, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Ottawa County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3.8%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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