The Town FilesOttumwa, Iowa
City in Wapello County · population 25,529 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $106,300
- Household income
- $61,103
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 36.7
Ottumwa is a city of 25,529 people in Wapello County, Iowa. The median home is worth $106,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 96% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 91% of Iowa towns, better transit than 89% of Iowa towns.
How Ottumwa ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ottumwa is worth $106,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $61,103, which is more affordable than 88% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $921 a month. 61.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ottumwa | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $106,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $921 | $820 |
| Median household income | $61,103 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 61.7% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Ottumwa
| People | Ottumwa | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.5% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 17.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Ottumwa
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 37.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 131 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ottumwa since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 31, 2023 about 5.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 31, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 60 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 10, 2001.
Severe weather in Wapello County since 1996
Wapello County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4126: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 31, 2013 | Flood | DR-4119: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Wapello County
Wapello County had 15,384 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,071 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Ottumwa itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Ottumwa
10 public schools with 4,925 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ottumwa High School | 9-12 | 1,239 | 15.3 |
| Liberty Elementary School | 3-6 | 764 | 13.9 |
| Evans Middle School | 7-8 | 689 | 13.3 |
| Pickwick Early Childhood Center | PK-K | 593 | 23.7 |
| Douma Elementary School | 1-2 | 345 | 11.9 |
| Wilson Elementary School | K-5 | 343 | 11.8 |
| Horace Mann Elementary School | K-5 | 251 | 15.7 |
| Eisenhower Elementary School | K-5 | 243 | 14.3 |
| Gateway High School | 9-12 | 230 | 38.3 |
| James Elementary School | K-5 | 228 | 12.7 |
Towns near Ottumwa
- Bloomfield, IA18.9 mi · 2,682 people · home $132,000
- Albia, IA19.8 mi · 3,721 people · home $130,300
- Oskaloosa, IA21.8 mi · 11,558 people · home $153,300
- Fairfield, IA23.8 mi · 9,416 people · home $156,000
Ottumwa questions
Is Ottumwa, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ottumwa scores better for retirees than 2% of Iowa towns and quieter than 8%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Ottumwa?
The median owner-occupied home in Ottumwa is valued at $106,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,103, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $921 a month.
What is the weather like in Ottumwa?
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.0 inches of precipitation a year and 23.6 inches of snow.
Does Ottumwa get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ottumwa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 31, 2023. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)