Population
308,459
2025
+3.9% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Ottawa County, MI: population growth, jobs and income
Ottawa County gained 2,269 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.7%).
Ottawa County had an estimated 308,459 residents in 2025, up 3.9% (11,566 more people) since 2020. That is faster than Michigan as a whole (+0.6%), and the 10th fastest growth of 83 counties in Michigan.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Ottawa County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Ottawa County, ranked against Michigan and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$1,211/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes5.3%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months1,0282025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
+1,166
2025
3.8 per 1,000 residents
+6,136 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
4.2%
2025
+1.3 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
1,411
2025
−9.6% since 2021
4.6 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$90,502
2020–24
+25.0% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
117,661
2023
+2.0% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration added 1,166 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Private employers had 117,661 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +2.0% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 4.2% in 2025, 1.3 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 1,411 new homes in 2025, or 4.6 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $90,502 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +25.0% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 786th.
Part of the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area.
Get Ottawa County’s next numbers by email
Email me when Ottawa County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Ottawa County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 308,459 | +2,269 |
| 2024 | 306,190 | +2,625 |
| 2023 | 303,565 | +2,728 |
| 2022 | 300,837 | +2,468 |
| 2021 | 298,369 | +1,476 |
| 2020 | 296,893 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Ottawa County
Ottawa County grew by 11,566 people since 2020; the largest part came from domestic migration (+6,136).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | +674 | +3,075 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +403 | +2,251 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +1,166 | +6,136 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +26 | +104 | |
| Total change | +2,269 | +11,566 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Michigan | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 10th of 83 | 786th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 36th of 83 | 1,251st of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 46th of 83 | 1,601st of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 4th of 83 | 289th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 5th of 83 | 1,799th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 8th of 83 | 694th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Ottawa County, MI as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
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Neighbouring counties
Ottawa County grew faster than all 5 of its neighbouring counties (+3.9%, 2020–25).
Its median household income ($90,502, 2020–24) is higher than in all 5 of its neighbouring counties.
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa County, MI This county | 308,459 | +3.9% | 3.8 | 4.6 | $90,502 |
| Muskegon County, MI | 177,901 | +1.8% | 4.1 | 2.5 | $65,024 |
| Allegan County, MI | 123,188 | +2.1% | 4.3 | 3.2 | $83,283 |
| Kent County, MI | 675,232 | +2.5% | −1.1 | 3.6 | $82,631 |
| Milwaukee County, WI | 924,216 | −1.5% | −5.1 | 1.1 | $64,435 |
| Racine County, WI | 198,919 | +0.4% | 2.1 | 3.4 | $78,096 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Ottawa County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 3.9% between 2020 and 2025, about 11,566 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Michigan as a whole changed +0.6% over the same years. That ranks 10th of 83 counties in Michigan for population growth.
How many people moved to Ottawa County?
On net, about 1,166 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Ottawa County?
It averaged 4.2% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Ottawa County?
About 308,459 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Ottawa County?
Private employers there had 117,661 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +2.0% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Michigan
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Michigan county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Ottawa County data alerts
Email me when Ottawa County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.