Ottawa, KS — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·Kansas·Ottawa

Franklin County · Ottawa · population 12,733

First-time buyersInvestorsSmall-town feel
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
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80
Hot
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Ottawa stands

At or near all-time high. home values up 10.3% in the last year. averaging 8.2% annual growth over 5 years.

Median home $237,259
1-year +10.3%
5-yr CAGR +8.2%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population +0.2%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$237k$100k$149k$198k$247k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
25/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
15/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
58/100
Workable for remote workers
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
92 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
80 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
49 · w16%
Home 10-yr CAGR
83 · w10%
Long thesis

Ottawa has averaged 8.2% annual appreciation over five years and the trend is still live (+10.3% in the last 12 months). When a momentum trade keeps working, the simplest explanation is usually correct: more people want in.

Short thesis

Ottawa's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Ottawa

Ottawa is a city in Franklin County, Kansas, with an estimated population of 12,733. The median home value in Ottawa is $237,259 as of 2026-04, up 10.3% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +8.2% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. The composite momentum score is 80 of 100 (Hot). Buyers should expect competition and limited negotiation room in this market.

▲ Bull case

●Multi-year compounder: home values up an average 8.2% per year over the last 5 years — sustained, not a one-year pop.
●Trend still working: prices up 10.3% in the last 12 months — buyers are still chasing inventory.
●Affordable AND rising: median home $237,259 with positive recent direction — rare combination most of the country can’t offer.
●Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

▼ Bear case

○Thin housing market: small population means fewer transactions and slower resale. Liquidity risk on exit.
○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

Playbook

Buyer

Expect competition, escalation clauses, and pressure to waive inspections. Make your strongest offer up front — Hot markets reward decisiveness, not negotiation. If you can't write a clean offer, you may not be the best fit for this market right now.

Seller

Price slightly above recent comps and let multiple offers work. Days-on-market should be short. Don't accept the first offer in the first 48 hours unless it's significantly above ask.

Investor

Cap rates will look ugly in a Hot market — your thesis has to be appreciation, not yield. Don't expect cash flow; expect to ride the trend and exit before it stalls.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Franklin County right now.

NWS active alerts (KS)Kansas Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Franklin County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Ottawa

Atchison, KS78 · HotGreat Bend, KS72 · RisingAugusta, KS73 · RisingHutchinson, KS71 · Rising

Run the numbers for Ottawa

ToolCan I afford Ottawa?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Ottawa rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Ottawa to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolOttawa cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
41° / 21°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
89° / 66°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
230
~63% of year
Annual precip
30″ rain
15″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
Very high
Wildfire
Low
Earthquake
Very low
Flood
Moderate

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Ottawa listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Ottawa area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
65%
Moderate climate
Median household income
$69,700
Kansas state median
Top industries (state-level)
Aerospace (Wichita)AgricultureHealthcare

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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