$216,461Average Value$156Average Price per Sq Ft61Homes For Sale
A small city with a college-town vibe and a quaint downtown
The city of Ottawa was originally home to the Ottawa Native American tribe who lived along the Marais Des Cygnes River. Through a treaty signed in the mid-1800s, tribal lands were ceded and an agreement to establish a college led to the development of Ottawa University. Today, the university continues to serve as a major area institution, partnering with the Ottawa people to provide free tuition to certified tribal members. Despite its small enrollment size — the school's student body is only around 930 undergraduates — the university's presence does evoke a college-town vibe. “On game day, the downtown picks up,” says Vance Finch, a real estate agent with Prestige Real Estate, who has lived in Ottawa since he was born there in 1969. “The restaurants get full, then everyone heads to the game.” Along with football games, this city of around 12,700 residents hosts downtown events, bringing the community together year-round. And in 2025, Ottawa was named one of Kansas’ most eccentric towns by WorldAtlas, crediting the city’s historic downtown scene.
Despite its small enrollment size Ottawa University's student body is only around 930 undergraduates its presence evokes a college-town vibe.
The Flint Hills Nature Trail stretches 118 miles and crosses over the Marais Des Cygnes River in Ottawa, Kansas.
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Eclectic housing options and tax incentives
The median home price in Ottawa is $210,000, with modest fixer-uppers selling as low as the $20,000s and upscale properties on multiple acres of land selling in the $700,000s. Single-family homes are predominant throughout the city, coming in many different ages, shapes and sizes. Houses here date as far back as the late 1800s, some of which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. “The city has invested in what we call revitalization areas,” says Finch. “There are tax incentives for people who buy older homes and restore them. If they build a newer home in those districts, there’s an even larger tax credit.” Homes sell after an average of about 30 days on the market, which is faster than the national average. They have also increased in value by an average of 9% each year since 2020.
The Marais Des Cygnes River used to cause a lot of flooding. That was until the 1960s when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed levees and pumping stations. Now, it’s not so much of an issue. The city is, however, located in Tornado Alley, a Midwest region known for seasonally high tornado activity between March and June. There have been no significant tornados in Ottawa since the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration began tracking tornadoes in 1950. All four seasons are experienced throughout the year, with hot summers and winters that can get below freezing.
Modern homes in Ottawa are scattered throughout the city sitting on various sizes of land.
Older 1900s Victorian homes can be found near Ottawa's city center.
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Shops and restaurants in Historic Downtown Ottawa
Historic Downtown Ottawa has local businesses lining its Main Street. Many small shops, restaurants and bars do business from these century-old Italianate-style buildings in this very walkable area of town. Street parking is made easy with diagonal spots. “The downtown area is pretty quaint,” says Finch. “It has some really neat coffee shops, eateries and some unique shops.” While many of the local stores typically close around 5 p.m., the restaurants and bars stay open throughout the evening. About 2 miles south of Main Street are some big- box retailers for everyday shopping needs. The city has a variety of job opportunities, with some of the biggest employers being the American Eagle Distribution Center, Ottawa University and AdventHealth.
The Corner Market has coffee and lunch options in downtown Ottawa.
American Eagle Distribution Center is one of Ottawa's largest employers.
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Two state biking trails and fishing in the Marais Des Cygnes River
Ottawa’s Parks Division maintains 10 municipal parks throughout the city. Ottawa is also a popular destination for cyclists, as it has two intersecting state bike trails: The Flint Hills Trail and Prairie Spirit Trail. “It’s the only town in Kansas with two state bike trails,” says Finch, “So we get a lot of biking tourism.” The Marais Des Cygnes River isn’t typically used for boating, but the river’s Second Street Dam is a common spot for fishing.
The Prairie Spirit Trail runs 51 miles from Iola to Ottawa and locals love riding, running and walking it.
The Second Street Dam in Ottawa is a popular spot for fishing, relaxing and enjoying the views.
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Ladies Night and other annual events
Ottawa holds several events throughout the year, many of which are sponsored by the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce and the Ottawa Main Street Association. One of the most highly anticipated events is Ladies Night. “Ladies Night is a big deal,” says Finch. “All the shops open up, the women come out and they have drawings and prizes.” Summer is full of different music festivals, such as CityFolk Fest, O-Town Hoedown and Ottawa Bluesfest. There are also several holiday celebrations, including the Boo Bash Candy Parade for Halloween, a Veteran’s Day parade and winter holiday celebrations that involve a parade and the mayor’s tree lighting ceremony.
Locals flock to the downtown movie theater - Plaza Cinema in Ottawa.
Ottawa holds several events throughout the year, many of which are sponsored by the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce and the Ottawa Main Street Association.
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Education through Ottawa USD 290 and Ottawa University
Ottawa Unified School District earns a B grade from Niche and serves kids in the city and the surrounding rural communities. Students are split between three elementary schools before they all merge into one student body at Ottawa Middle and Ottawa High. Post-secondary students may opt to stay in the city by attending Ottawa University, a private Baptist institution. It offers dozens of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and the school's teams compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Students are split between three elementary schools before they all merge into one student body at Ottawa Middle and Ottawa High.
Ottawa Unified School District earns a B grade from Niche and serves kids in the city and the surrounding rural communities.
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Commuting to Kansas City and Topeka
Ottawa is a mostly car-dependent city. While there are no public bus routes, residents can schedule shuttle rides through the Franklin County Public Transportation system. Kansas City is about 1 hour away via Interstate 35, and travelers can take U.S. Route 59 for an approximately 45-minute drive to Topeka. The closest airport with commercial flights is Kansas City International Airport.
Crime
Crime statistics for Ottawa are not readily available.
Written By
Nicolas Stuart
Photography Contributed By
Brooke Wasson
Video By
Andrew Perrius
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Ottawa, KS sell after 43 days on the market compared to the national average of 54 days. The median sale price for homes in Ottawa, KS over the last 12 months is $217,200, up 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to 236 S Ash St in Ottawa, KS — a beautifully renovated 2,315 sq ft home on a peaceful 1.17-acre lot. This 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath property feels like a brand-new custom build and qualifies for Ottawa’s 5-year tax abatement program, offering valuable long-term savings. The open main level features all-new flooring, paint, lighting, and finishes, highlighted by a stunning custom kitchen with
MOTIVATED SELLER! CONVENIENT LOCATION! NEW PRICE! TOTALLY PRIVATE SETTING ON 3.4 ACRE SURROUNDED BY BEAUTIFUL MOTHER NATURE! IN OTTAWA KANSAS. CLOSE TO I-35 FOR EASY ACCESS North or South, according to the seller the access to I-35 has been a bonus over the years. Awesome front to back split with over 2600 square feet of living area. LARGE living, dinning, family, and bedrooms offer room to
NEW CARPET IN BEDROOMS! Freshly painted interior! This stunning Drippe-built no step ranch offers effortless living. Enjoy a spacious 3-car garage, a fenced in backyard, and an extended patio perfect for outdoor entertaining. Inside, the home features upgraded kitchen appliances that stay, thoughtful design, and added attic storage for all your extras.Located on a cul-de-sac directly across
Prime 12 acre land for sale! Welcome to a rare opportunity to own 12 acres in a highly desirable location! This exceptional property features highway frontage on Highway 59 and road frontage on Rock Creek Road and makes it ideal for a wide range of uses. Sitting on a corner lot it is perfect for commercial potential, a new home site, a hobby farm, or future development. This property also sits
Beautifully rolling Franklin County Kansas 196-acre farm just off of a paved road. This farm is a mixture of cool season and native prairie pasture that is fenced with some cross fencing. There is approximately 80 acres of land, 52 of which is prime Class 2 soils, that has been farmed in the past that could be broken back out and farmed. The farm has 4 nice ponds and some trees for shade for
Beautifully rolling Franklin County Kansas 157-acre farm just off of a paved road. This farm is a mixture of cool season and native prairie pasture that is mostly fenced with some cross fencing. There is approximately 52 acres land that is prime Class 2 soils that has been farmed in the past that could be broken back out and farmed. The farm has 3 nice ponds and some trees for shade for livestock
Diversified Farm 139 acres+/- has it all, income producing cropland, the pastures are a cattleman's dream with year around grazing, cool season pasture, warm season pasture, 4 ponds, treed areas, whitetails and other wildlife. There is a livestock pond in each of the four cross fenced sections, including the West 40 that has 34 acres tillable, Woodson Silt Loam soil, produced soybeans this year
Situated adjacent to the 310+ acre Proximity Park Industrial Development at Ottawa, This 119 Acres more or less is in a prime location for Industrial/Warehouse Development. Paved Montana Road is along the East side of the property and Labette Road is gravel. There is paved access to I-35 from either exit 185 or 187 at Ottawa. The property also has easy access to the Ottawa municipal airport.
Excellent Location: near Interstate I-35, adjacent to Commercial Property, close to Industrial Park, paved roads on two sides, Kingman Rd and US-59 Hwy, near I-35 interchange, mostly level ground some flood plain in the back. Entrance off Kingman Rd. Currently zoned Agriculture, 2025 harvested wheat then double crop soybeans in the wheat stubble. Check with Franklin County regarding process
A nice level building site, a corner lot, Lot 6, right at the entry way of and into the nice culdesac. Buyer to verify property lines and responsible for utility access to their home and the line connections. Beautiful homes all around. Rural water meter is on site.
Welcome to The Oaks at Canterbury in Ottawa, KS! Our pet-friendly community offers a variety of amenities to enhance your living experience. Enjoy the convenience of walk-in closets, central heat and air conditioning, and 24/7 emergency maintenance. Our onsite management and maintenance team is here to ensure your needs are met promptly. Stay active with our basketball court and playground,
Welcome to Ottawa Plains Apartments in Ottawa, KS! Our community offers convenient amenities such as laundry on site, a dishwasher, washer/dryer hookups, a patio/balcony, and a clubhouse for residents to enjoy. Located in a prime location, our apartments provide easy access to shopping, dining, and entertainment options. Whether you're looking to relax on your private balcony or socialize in the
Property Id: 818515Super cute upstairs apartment close to Ottawa University! Hard wood floors, large windows, tons of natural light! Has brand new stainless steel stove with built in air fryer! New Stainless steel fridge. The 802 also features extra storage in the basement as well as a garage parking space. Gas, Water, Mowing, Trash are provided.Ask about the optional
Property Id: 2263479Welcome to this charming 3 bed 2 bath Home with large detached 2 car garage, privacy fenced in back yard and large patio space. Beautiful original wood work. Large open loft upstairs with plenty of attic storage and basement storage.
Call Tammy to see OPEN FLOOR PLAN—PLENTY OF STORAGE (2 blocks North of Golf Course)We keep our apartments PET FREE for those with allergies. (no exceptions) No smoking on premises. (insurance requirement)
Call Tammy to see - seven 85-four18-88 four zero OPEN FLOOR PLAN—PLENTY OF STORAGE (2 blocks North of Golf Course)We keep our apartments Pet Free for those with allergies. (no exceptions) No smoking on premises. (insurance requirement)
Single room for rent to a young adult in a large home out in the country. Will have access to common area like living room, kitchen, and laundry room. Must have a job and transportation. Clean and spacious.
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