County profile · Ohio
Ottawa County, OH market data
How Ottawa County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 39,481
- −2.0% since 2020
- Households
- 18,504
- Median household income
- $76,101
- +28.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $219,900
- Jobs located here
- 12,612
- Highest market score
- 71
- Collision repair and body shops, #189 of 1,327 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Ottawa County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Ottawa County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Ottawa County has an estimated 39,481 people and 18,504 households. Population estimates put the population change in Ottawa County from 2020 to 2025 at −2.0%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Ottawa County is $76,101, 6% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 28.8%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Ottawa County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 118, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (70).
Of the business types scored in Ottawa County, collision repair and body shops (71), primary care and pediatric clinics (70) and hair salons (69) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For collision repair and body shops, that ranks #189 of 1,327 scored counties.
Ottawa County is part of the Sandusky metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pizza places (89% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (60% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Ottawa County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Ottawa County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collision repair and body shops | 71 | #189 of 1,327 | 5 | 2.7 | $4.2M | 136 | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 70 | #252 of 1,656 | 6 | 3.2 | $4.4M | 247 | 18 |
| Hair salons | 69 | #320 of 2,339 | 31 | 16.8 | $596K | 138 | 5 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 68 | #338 of 2,385 | 55 | 29.7 | $336K | 158 | 7 |
| Nail salons | 66 | #233 of 1,328 | 5 | 2.7 | $3.7M | 221 | Under 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 66 | #466 of 2,394 | 63 | 34.0 | $419K | 275 | 41 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 65 | #296 of 1,302 | 6 | 3.2 | $4.4M | 140 | 3 |
| Chiropractors | 65 | #321 of 1,490 | 7 | 3.8 | $3.8M | 157 | 5 |
| Home repair trades | 65 | #349 of 2,057 | 14 | 7.6 | $3.6M | 149 | 22 |
| Grocery stores | 64 | #556 of 2,070 | 8 | 4.3 | $14.1M | 151 | 7 |
| Veterinarians | 63 | #421 of 1,485 | 5 | 2.7 | $3.2M | 116 | 4 |
| Auto repair and car care | 63 | #612 of 2,401 | 61 | 33.0 | $344K | 128 | 25 |
| Auto repair shops | 61 | #682 of 2,378 | 34 | 18.4 | $617K | 139 | 20 |
| Pet businesses | 60 | #655 of 2,200 | 18 | 9.7 | $877K | 100 | 8 |
| Physical therapy | 59 | #467 of 1,422 | 8 | 4.3 | $3.3M | 137 | 7 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 57 | #461 of 1,334 | 7 | 3.8 | $2.4M | 117 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 57 | #631 of 1,611 | 8 | 4.3 | $945K | 94 | 5 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 57 | #741 of 2,088 | 27 | 14.6 | $613K | 93 | 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 56 | #939 of 2,402 | 37 | 20.0 | $3M | 90 | 10 |
| Convenience stores | 54 | #993 of 2,261 | 21 | 11.3 | $5.4M | 68 | 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 53 | #641 of 1,451 | 7 | 3.8 | $3M | 119 | 4 |
| Gyms | 53 | #818 of 1,792 | 16 | 8.6 | $1M | 79 | 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | 50 | #591 of 1,177 | 5 | 2.7 | $10.1M | 119 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 50 | #878 of 1,769 | 16 | 8.6 | $1.2M | 132 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 50 | #1,121 of 2,222 | 20 | 10.8 | $3.6M | 119 | 41 |
| Funeral homes | 48 | #756 of 1,472 | 7 | 3.8 | $468K | 69 | 4 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 48 | #1,126 of 2,087 | 27 | 14.6 | $1.4M | 107 | 10 |
| Electricians | 47 | #662 of 1,160 | 6 | 3.2 | $8.4M | 70 | 5 |
| Gas stations | 47 | #1,324 of 2,358 | 32 | 17.3 | $1.7M | 70 | 13 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 45 | #839 of 1,461 | 8 | 4.3 | $2M | 78 | 4 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 44 | #887 of 1,493 | 9 | 4.9 | $2.5M | 87 | 16 |
| Insurance agencies | 44 | #1,317 of 2,272 | 23 | 12.4 | $1.4M | 111 | 12 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 43 | #1,378 of 2,210 | 40 | 21.6 | $916K | 104 | 13 |
| House cleaning | 37 | #650 of 847 | 5 | 2.7 | $4.6M | 72 | 6 |
| Real estate | 34 | #1,927 of 2,229 | 65 | 35.1 | Index only | 93 | 18 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 33 | #1,946 of 2,176 | 59 | 31.9 | Index only | 81 | 10 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 32 | #1,509 of 1,771 | 18 | 9.7 | $1.3M | 76 | 25 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 28 | #1,676 of 1,889 | 23 | 12.4 | $3.2M | 76 | 16 |
| Pizza | 27 | #1,871 of 2,090 | 28 | 15.1 | $2.6M | 51 | 41 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 27 | #2,148 of 2,405 | 122 | 65.9 | $595K | 90 | 60 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 26 | #1,856 of 2,063 | 29 | 15.7 | $2.5M | 68 | 16 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 22 | #2,254 of 2,405 | 281 | 151.9 | $258K | 70 | 117 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.2 | $6.6M | 670 | 8 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.2 | $9.2M | 73 | 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.2 | $5.7M | 56 | 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.2 | Index only | 117 | 5 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.2 | $4.1M | 102 | 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $6.2M | 327 | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $12.2M | 78 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $16.8M | 354 | 17 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $7.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $21M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Ottawa County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $21M | $1,134 | 118 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $53.1M | $2,869 | 111 |
| Food away from home | $72.6M | $3,921 | 96 |
| Groceries | $112.4M | $6,076 | 96 |
| Personal care products and services | $18.5M | $998 | 99 |
| Child care and other personal services | $7.6M | $409 | 70 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $16.5M | $894 | 91 |
| Medical and dental services | $26.4M | $1,425 | 111 |
| Pets | $15.8M | $853 | 94 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $36.7M | $1,981 | 96 |
| Vehicle insurance | $32.2M | $1,739 | 89 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $50.5M | $2,730 | 90 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $22.9M | $1,239 | 88 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $260.7M | $14,088 | 85 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Ottawa County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 39,481−2.0% since 2020
- Households
- 18,504
- Median age
- 49.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 84%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 255 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 157
- Median household income
- $76,101+28.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $104,812
- Median home value
- $219,900
- Jobs located here
- 12,612
- Daytime population
- 34,439Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Ottawa County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Ottawa County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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- Lucas County, OH428,018 people
- Huron County, OH58,319 people
- Hancock County, OH74,866 people
- Wyandot County, OH21,598 people
Questions
How fast is Ottawa County, OH growing?
Population estimates put Ottawa County at 39,481 people in 2025, down 2.0% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 18,504 households. Median household income rose 28.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Ottawa County, OH spend?
Households in Ottawa County spend about $260.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $112.4M on groceries and $72.6M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Ottawa County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 118, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (70).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Ottawa County, OH?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Ottawa County are for collision repair and body shops (71), primary care and pediatric clinics (70) and hair salons (69). Ottawa County ranks #189 of 1,327 scored counties for collision repair and body shops.
How does Ottawa County, OH compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Ottawa County is $76,101 a year, 6% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 2.0% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $219,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Ottawa County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pizza places (89% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (60% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 42 of the 56 business types have a score in Ottawa County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Ottawa County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Ottawa County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Ottawa County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.