Photo: Nyttend · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Ottawa is healthier than 74%
Ottawa differs from Ohio on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 12 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ottawa. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ottawa
Ottawa is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Ottawa is healthier than 59%. Against the 10,528 towns with similar household incomes ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 74%. Health Grade ↓
Ottawa keeps up with checkups
It beats Ohio on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (70.2% vs 62.9%) and cholesterol checks (88.3% vs 86.1%). Checkups ↓
Ottawa is short on primary care and mental health care
Ottawa’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Cancer runs high in Ottawa
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.4%), vs 8.7% across Ohio. Conditions ↓
Fewer Ottawa adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Ohio. 1 in 10 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 7 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Ohio figure falls outside Ottawa’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Ottawa’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ottawa is healthier than 59% of U.S. towns, #291 of 993 in Ohio. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 76% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 8%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Ottawa’s median household income is $69,950; among the 10,528 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 74%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ottawa adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
Care in and near Ottawa
No hospital or community health center in Ottawa itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Ottawa; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.1% of Ottawa adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
Out of every 100 Ottawa adults…
Ottawa runs below OH on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Ohio
Share of adults, with the Ohio figure marked.
0.4 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
How Ottawa adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Ottawa does better than Ohio.
1 in 3 Ottawa adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Ottawa and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ottawa adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ottawa
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ottawa is better than Ohio on 12 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside Ottawa’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ottawa | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.6%14.2–19.2 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.1%11.4–14.9 | 13.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.5–17.3 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.8%35.3–50 | 37.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.5%10.7–14.3 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.9%32.9–40.8 | 37.2% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.3%33.2–41.4 | 36.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.1%27.7–34.4 | 29.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.2–11.6 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.4%9.5–11.4 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.3–8.1 | 7.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.2%6.1–8.4 | 8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3–3.8 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.6%8.7–12.8 | 15.3% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.4%10.2–14.7 | 15.4% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 24.4%20.2–28.7 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18%15–21.2 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.6%26.7–36.8 | 37.9% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.7%6.4–9.3 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.1%78–84 | 79.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.2%67.2–73.1 | 62.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.3%86.6–89.8 | 86.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.1%78.7–83.4 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.4%65.8–74.5 | 65.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.3%75.2–86.4 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.3%20–26.7 | 25.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.7%27.7–38.3 | 35% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.1%16–22.6 | 21.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.8%7.9–12 | 14.1% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.4%6.9–10.1 | 11.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.7%4.8–6.7 | 8.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.7%4.8–6.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.1%5.6–8.7 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.8%23.8–31.6 | 29.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13%11–15.1 | 13.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.1%10.3–13.7 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.1%6.2–8 | 6.8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4%3.5–4.6 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.9%5.9–7.9 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.7–3.6 | 3.8% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Ohio figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Ottawa
Is Ottawa a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ottawa is healthier than 59% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #291 of 993 in Ohio. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ottawa?
CDC estimates 42.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.3% and 50%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ottawa?
Bluffton Hospital in Bluffton, 11.6 miles in a straight line from Ottawa’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Ottawa have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.4–9.3%), against 8% across Ohio.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Ottawa more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ottawa.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Ohio figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.