salaryRent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Commutes are short, about 17.8 minutes.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $34,760 a year. That is $17 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Iowa cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Iowa. It is number 15 of 86 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Ottumwa?
Share of households by yearly income. 15.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Ottumwa
| Size | Ottumwa | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $746 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $777 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,040 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,360 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,665 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Ottumwa overall?
Everyday prices in Iowa overall are 12% below the U.S. average (index 87.8, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Ottumwa, so the Iowa figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Ottumwa
Life in Ottumwa
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Ottumwa?
Buying is cheaper month to month: about $131 a month less than renting.
Owning assumes a typical $106,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $10,630 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Ottumwa, IA?
Renting in Ottumwa costs a median of about $869 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Iowa median is $1,071.
How much do I need to make to live in Ottumwa?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $34,760 a year, or $17 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Ottumwa cheap or expensive?
Ottumwa is rated Cheap: rent takes 15.8% of the typical household income of $65,900. It ranks 15th cheapest of 86 Iowa cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Ottumwa?
The median homeowner in Ottumwa pays $1,855 a year in property taxes, about 1.75% of the median home value.
Is Ottumwa more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Iowa are 12% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Ottumwa?
The median home value in Ottumwa is $106,300, about 1.6 times the typical yearly household income.
25,430 people live in Ottumwa. Numbers are typical (middle) values.