The Town FilesOttawa Hills, Ohio
Village in Lucas County · population 4,790 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $314,900
- Household income
- $167,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 40.6
Ottawa Hills is a village of 4,790 people in Lucas County, Ohio. The median home is worth $314,900, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of Ohio towns, more upscale than 98% of Ohio towns, more walkable than 94% of Ohio towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Ohio
- #12 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in America
- #12 in The 50 Best Affordable Places for Remote Workers in America
- #13 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Ohio
- #18 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Ohio
- #19 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Ohio
How Ottawa Hills ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ottawa Hills is worth $314,900, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $167,917, which is more affordable than 91% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $1,731 a month. 88.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ottawa Hills | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $314,900 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $1,731 | $914 |
| Median household income | $167,917 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 88.3% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Ottawa Hills
| People | Ottawa Hills | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 30.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 68.5% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.3% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.8% | — |
| Work from home | 16.7% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 20.5 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.2% | 90.9% |
Weather in Ottawa Hills
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 20.3°F. About 35.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.9 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 123 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ottawa Hills since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on June 5, 2010 about 9.6 miles from the town center and killed 7. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 29 deaths and 289 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 15, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 101 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 15, 2023.
Severe weather in Lucas County since 1996
Lucas County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| July 2, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1651: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3250: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Lucas County
Lucas County had 194,869 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,231 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Ottawa Hills itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Towns near Ottawa Hills
- Toledo, OH3.0 mi · 270,871 people · home $114,500
- Sylvania, OH4.7 mi · 19,011 people · home $249,200
- Lambertville, MI5.5 mi · 10,433 people · home $256,400
- Maumee, OH6.8 mi · 13,896 people · home $194,500
- Rossford, OH7.1 mi · 6,299 people · home $174,900
- Bedford, MI7.7 mi · 31,813 people · home $253,100
- Temperance, MI7.8 mi · 9,188 people · home $250,100
- Whiteford, MI8.1 mi · 4,590 people · home $277,900
Ottawa Hills questions
Is Ottawa Hills, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ottawa Hills scores better for retirees than 58% of Ohio towns and quieter than 12%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.6).
How much does a house cost in Ottawa Hills?
The median owner-occupied home in Ottawa Hills is valued at $314,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $167,917, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $1,731 a month.
What is the weather like in Ottawa Hills?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 20.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.0 inches of precipitation a year and 34.9 inches of snow.
Does Ottawa Hills get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ottawa Hills since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on June 5, 2010. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- 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)