Signals
Ottawa
Effingham
Growth
50 · Top 48%
vs44 · Bottom 41%
Climate
65 · Bottom 47%
vs67 · Top 49%
Physical resilience
54 · Bottom 48%
vs66 · Top 34%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
81 · Top 40%
vs65 · Bottom 29%
Economic stability
86 · Top 7%
vs78 · Top 16%
Measured values
| Metric | Ottawa | Effingham | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,106 | 44,856 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $77,207 | $79,157 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,973 | $39,201 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 46/sq mi | 54/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $198,700 | $172,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,042 | $743 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 72.2% | 79.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.6% | 25.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | 9.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 108 | 62 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.1 | 1.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -17.6% | 67.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 86°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 20°F | 20°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 37.5" | 36.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 34 mi | 64 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 20.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.7 | 40.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Ottawa
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado, inland flooding.
Effingham
Elevated or high exposure: drought, earthquake.
Full profiles: Ottawa, KS Micro Area · Effingham, IL Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology