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Ottawa County, MI

RANK #314 / 996  ·  POP 296,183  ·  MI

PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.5%

Ottawa County combines solid growth with real affordability — a rare combination.

[01] Why Ottawa County?

Ottawa County, Michigan, stands out for its freshwater coastline along Lake Michigan and its strong Dutch heritage, particularly evident in towns like Holland. Located between Grand Rapids and Lake Michigan, the county offers a blend of scenic beauty and community life. Commuting to Grand Rapids is common, and public transportation options like Harbor Transit and Hope Network Transportation serve various communities within the county. The area boasts numerous parks and trails, including the Grand River Greenway, providing opportunities for hiking, biking, and water activities.

Life in Ottawa County is characterized by a high quality of life, with highly-rated public schools such as Holmes Elementary and West Ottawa Public Schools. The economy is diverse, supported by agriculture, food processing, and durable goods manufacturing. Recent economic developments include expansions by companies like Coca-Cola in Coopersville and ongoing residential and infrastructure projects, reflecting the county's consistent population growth.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
4.8x

Above national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+2.5%

Below national median

Home Prices
+5.3%

Outpacing national median

Climate & Terrain
-0.0

Below-average climate & terrain

Price/Rent
14x

Above national median (13x)

Housing is fairly valued at 4.8x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Ottawa County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
296,183
+0.84% YoY
Median Household Income
$83,932
Median Home Value
$269,200
+5.3% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,080
Average Annual Pay
$59,813
+3.6% YoY
Employment
131,885
-1.0% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3118
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
5.83%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$375,000
Days on Market
30
Active market
Months of Supply
2.0
Seller's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
99.0%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
26.7%
Listings w/ Price Drops
19.5%
Building Permits (2024)
1,235
Single-Family Permits
779

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +2.5% 46 percentile
Population Growth +0.8% 66 percentile
Income Growth +8.6% 53 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.4% 96 percentile
Home Price Change +5.3% 92 percentile
Rent Growth +4.8% 77 percentile
Price/Rent 14x 44 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ottawa County, MI a good place to move to?

Ottawa County has a Boom Town Index score of 68/100, ranking #314 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -1.0% and a median household income of $83,932, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is Ottawa County affordable?

The median home value in Ottawa County is $269,200 with median rent at $1,080/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3118, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Ottawa County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +0.8% year-over-year. Job growth: -1.0%. Home values changed +5.3% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Ottawa County?

Yes — 5.83% of Ottawa County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Richmond County, NY 78 Crawford County, AR 78 Randolph County, NC 78 Pottawatomie County, OK 78 Franklin County, VA 78 Livingston County, NY 78 Will County, IL 78 Bedford County, VA 78