Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Ottawa, Kansas
A $166,000 home here costs
$1,581per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $68,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $905. The real number is $676 higher every month, 75% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Franklin County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Ottawa against Franklin County and Kansas
| Measure | Ottawa | Franklin County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,700 | $187,400 |
| Median property tax | $2,847 | $2,737 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.718% | 1.461% |
| Median gross rent | $949 | $949 |
| Population | 12,632 | 25,994 |
The weather behind that power bill
Ottawa sits in Franklin County, which averages a high of 89.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 18.2°F in its coldest, with 39.85" of precipitation a year and 38% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,337 cooling and 5,130 heating degree days, which is what sets the $136 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Franklin County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Franklin County
Full Franklin County cost breakdown · Every county in Kansas
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Ottawa averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Ottawa every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Ottawa I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Ottawa?
A $166,000 home in Ottawa, Kansas costs approximately $1,581 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $905 principal and interest, $238 property tax, $97 homeowners insurance, $204 utilities and $138 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Ottawa?
Ottawa has an effective property tax rate of 1.718%, based on a median home value of $165,700 and median real estate taxes of $2,847. That is higher than the Franklin County average of 1.461%.
What is the average home price in Ottawa?
The median owner-occupied home value in Ottawa, Kansas is $165,700, against $187,400 across Franklin County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Ottawa?
Median gross rent in Ottawa is $949 a month, against $1,581 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Ottawa?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Ottawa, Kansas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $68,000 a year. That covers the full $1,581 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Ottawa, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Kansas.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.