At $1,238/mo, rent takes about 21% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,238 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
30% of the median household income ($71,413) is $1,785 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,640).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Ottawa. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Ottawa, IL is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 23.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Ottawa, IL has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $71,413 today, compared with $61,083 five years earlier. Headcount in the area went from 18,719 to 18,447 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.5% change. About 30.3% of households rent today, against 35.1% in 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Ottawa on your salary?
At $1,238/mo, how Ottawa rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Ottawa rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Ottawa. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Ottawa
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Ottawa is $1,238/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $790/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,080/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $820/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,450/mo.
At 21% of local median household income ($71,413/yr), Ottawa ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Ottawa?
Is rent going up or down in Ottawa?
How does Ottawa rent compare to other cities in Illinois?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Ottawa?
At $1,238/mo, rent takes ~21% of Ottawa's median household income ($71,413/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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