Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for Ottawa, KS
The median monthly rent in Ottawa, KS is $1,350, translating to $16,200 in annual gross rental income per unit. The rent-to-price ratio is 0.54% — well below the 1% rule, making pure cash flow investing challenging at median prices.
Renters in Ottawa spend approximately 29% of the local median household income ($55,200) on rent. This is within the healthy 25-30% range, indicating rent is affordable relative to local incomes. There may be room for moderate rent increases, especially for updated or well-located units.
The vacancy rate in Ottawa is 5.3%. This is a healthy vacancy rate that indicates balanced supply and demand. You should be able to find quality tenants without extended vacancies, though expect normal turnover periods of 2-4 weeks between tenants. Population growth of 0.7% annually provides stable demand.
Ottawa's GRM (price divided by annual rent) is 15.4x. A GRM between 12-16x is moderate and typical of balanced markets. Deals can work but you need to keep expenses controlled. For comparison, the national average GRM for investment-grade rentals is approximately 13-15x.
At the median rent of $1,350/mo, a single-family rental in Ottawa generates approximately $16,200 in gross annual income. After accounting for 5.3% vacancy ($859 lost), property taxes of $3,450, insurance (~$1,000), and maintenance (~$1,000), the estimated NOI is $9,891 per year, or $824/mo.
Ottawa vs Kansas state average and national average across key investment metrics. Ottawa outperforms both benchmarks on cap rate.