2013 · Ottawa Wisconsin Town Hall · Wikimedia Commons
Ottawa’s story
Ottawa in pictures
12 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
OttawaWI
A town of 3,644. A typical home worth about $655K.
Population
3,644
−5.5% since 2010
Typical home
$655K
+8.4% in a year
Household income
$153K
median
Median age
43.2
years
Jobs based here
356
A commuter town
What makes Ottawa stand out
The 3 things Ottawa does most differently from other towns.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Ottawa for work
Where Ottawa’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
356jobs based in Ottawa
1%of working residents work in town
17 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Ottawa’s report card
Now in Ottawa
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Ottawa is #6 of 301 in WI for “Highest graduation rate”. Fair?
Your answer becomes a post in Ottawa’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Ottawa. Another town gets a different order.
Housing
A typical Ottawa home is worth about $655K
The typical Ottawa home is worth about $655,000, up 8.4% in a year, 93% above the Wisconsin typical home.
$655KZillow home value
Typical home value
Ottawa$655K
Wisconsin$340K
+8.4%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Schools
Ottawa’s public schools outperform 92% of Wisconsin districts
The public schools Ottawa’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 92% of Wisconsin’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
ASchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lad Lake-Lakewood & Passage Schools Private | 3–12 | 57 | |
| Lad Lake-Lakewood & Passage School Private | 4–12 | 44 |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state tests and graduationAll 2 schools →
Health
Healthier than 80% of U.S. towns
Ottawa beats the Wisconsin average on 16 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2.
A−Health Grade
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
16 better14 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Ottawa | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 7.3% | 12.1% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 6.4% | 9.7% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.9% | 8.6% |
Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital
9.6 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
88th
percentile among WI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Outdoors
9.2% of Ottawa is conserved land
37 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves.
#41for trails in WI
9.2%
conserved · 1,987 of 21,540 acres
37 mi
of trails · 1.1 per sq mi
#59
most conserved land in WI
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit | 24.5 mi | 2,679 |
| 2. Paradise Valley Wildlife Area | 3.4 mi | 1,419 |
| 3. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Waukesha Field Station | 2.8 mi | 93 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Ottawa
Most working residents leave Ottawa for work: only 1% work in town. The top destinations are Milwaukee (11%), Waukesha (10%) and Oconomowoc (6%). Half commute less than 17 miles.
1%work in town
Where working residents work
In Ottawa1%
Milwaukee11%
Waukesha10%
Oconomowoc6%
Pewaukee5%
17 mi
median commute distance
356
jobs based in Ottawa
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Ottawa has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 12°, and about 51 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
51″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter15–31°
Spring36–56°
Summer58–80°
Fall40–60°
Oct 9
typical first frost
May 3
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 33% of U.S. communities.
33risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
2
paid flood claims since 2008
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
About Ottawa
Town in Wisconsin, United States
Ottawa is a town in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,646 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 3,646
- Area
- 35 sq mi
- Elevation
- 856 ft
Ottawa’s neighbors
6 towns share a border with Ottawa.