Ottawa County, Michigan: commercial real estate data.
Ottawa County, Michigan had an estimated 306,235 residents on July 1, 2024, up 3.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 296,195, across 563 square miles. County output reached $21.04 bn in 2024, 6,865 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 537 7(a) approvals worth $213.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Ottawa County
How many people live in Ottawa County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024301,203
- Households111,322
- Average household size2.71
- Median household income$90,502
- Median age36.5
- Median gross rent$1,211 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$323,400
- Home value to household income3.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher38.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over192,975
- Population under 1869,275
- Share under 1823.0 percent
- Population 65 and over50,320
- Share 65 and over16.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64181,608
- Civilian labor force161,028
- Unemployment rate3.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over69.4 percent
- Rank by population among Michigan counties7th of 83
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included240th of 3,222
Ottawa County is the 7th largest of 83 Michigan counties by population. A median home costs 3.6 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.0 percent against 16.7 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Ottawa County
Is Ottawa County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024306,235
- Census 2020 base population296,195
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.39 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20242,660
- Births, 20243,017
- Deaths, 20242,363
- Natural change, 2024654
- Net domestic migration, 20241,113
- Net international migration, 2024880
- Total net migration, 20241,993
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20244,797
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents798th of 3,144
The county has grown 3.39 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Ottawa County
Where are people moving to Ottawa County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving7,980
- People arriving, from those returns14,168
- Tax returns filed by households leaving7,505
- Net household movement475
- Adjusted gross income arriving$589.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$78.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$73,923
- Average income of a leaving household$68,160
- Largest single originKent County (2,742 households)
- Largest single destinationKent County (2,293 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County | 2,742 | 4,859 | $196.2 m |
| Allegan County | 827 | 1,498 | $45.9 m |
| Muskegon County | 699 | 1,192 | $37.2 m |
| Oakland County | 150 | 261 | $15.5 m |
| Cook County | 144 | 259 | $27.4 m |
| Kalamazoo County | 119 | 192 | $7.0 m |
| Wayne County | 111 | 174 | $7.6 m |
| Ingham County | 98 | 162 | $9.1 m |
Households arriving report $5,763 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Kent County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Ottawa County
What is the Ottawa County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$21.04 bn
- County GDP, 2023$20.08 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.8 percent
- GDP change over five years36.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Michigan areas BEA publishes7th of 83
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes246th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$69,865
Output grew 4.8 percent in the latest year and 36.8 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Ottawa County
Employment by industry in Ottawa County
- Covered employment, annual average131,885
- Establishments reporting6,888
- Average annual pay$59,813
- Average weekly wage$1,150
- Manufacturing, employment40,464
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$74,443
- Retail trade, employment10,500
- Retail trade, average annual pay$38,883
- Accommodation and food services, employment10,395
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$24,194
- Health care and social assistance, employment9,743
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$44,388
- Construction, employment6,952
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment6,750
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 40,464 | 644 | $74,443 |
| Retail trade | 10,500 | 634 | $38,883 |
| Accommodation and food services | 10,395 | 424 | $24,194 |
| Health care and social assistance | 9,743 | 606 | $44,388 |
| Construction | 6,952 | 1,032 | $72,790 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 6,750 | 350 | $40,922 |
| Wholesale trade | 5,141 | 316 | $79,425 |
| Other services, except public administration | 4,789 | 638 | $47,733 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 40,464 jobs, 30.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Ottawa County
How many businesses are in Ottawa County?
- Establishments, all industries6,865
- Employment at those establishments117,661
- Annual payroll$6.38 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents22.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Ottawa County
Building permits in Ottawa County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241,235
- Declared construction value permitted$361.9 m
- Single family units authorized779
- Multifamily units authorized456
- Multifamily share of units36.9 percent
- Average declared value per unit$293,006
- Units authorized per 1,000 households11.1
Single-family homes are 63.1 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Ottawa County
SBA loans in Ottawa County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded537
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$213.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$396,743
- Median 7(a) approval$113,700
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,092,500
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)4,850
- Jobs per approval9.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active57
- Distinct industries receiving approvals188
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer9.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms53
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter465
- Franchise loans38
- Franchise share of approvals7.1 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (22)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (350)
- 504 approvals recorded201
- 504 gross approval dollars$150.3 m
- Average 504 approval$748,005
- Median 504 approval$486,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval7.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved9.9
- Most active CDCGreat Lakes Commercial Finance (144)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$363.4 m
The average approval of $396,743 sits well above the median of $113,700, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 9.9 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Ottawa County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Ottawa County
Do SBA loans in Ottawa County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded125
- Paid in full123
- Charged off2
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans1.6 percent
- Status: Paid in full123
- Status: Exempt from disclosure341
- Status: Cancelled44
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed27
- Status: Charged off2
Of the 125 loans that have reached a final outcome, 1.6 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Ottawa County
SBA lending by place in Ottawa County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending21
- Holland, approvals163
- Grand Haven, approvals80
- Hudsonville, approvals78
- Zeeland, approvals49
- Spring Lake, approvals34
- Jenison, approvals34
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Holland | 163 | $64,240,900 |
| Grand Haven | 80 | $27,288,400 |
| Hudsonville | 78 | $32,845,100 |
| Zeeland | 49 | $17,085,100 |
| Spring Lake | 34 | $13,641,300 |
| Jenison | 34 | $10,087,200 |
| Allendale | 33 | $12,559,800 |
| Grand Rapids | 11 | $5,798,200 |
| 13 other borrower cities | 55 | $29,504,900 |
Holland accounts for 163 approvals against 80 in Grand Haven. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Ottawa County
How large is Ottawa County?
- Land area563 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Michigan counties52nd of 83
- Width, east to west24.8 mi
- Height, north to south30.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary3
- Residents per square mile of land535
- Establishments per square mile12.19
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Ottawa County
Flood risk in Ottawa County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book24
- Of those, participating in the NFIP24
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 8
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- Radon levels in Ottawa County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The EPA places Ottawa County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 8, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Ottawa County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Ottawa County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024301,203
- Households111,322
- Average household size2.71
- Median household income$90,502
- Median age36.5
Common questions
Ottawa County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Ottawa County, Michigan?
The Census Bureau estimates 306,235 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 301,203, in 111,322 households, ranking 7th of 83 Michigan counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Ottawa County's population growing?
The population has grown 3.39 percent since the 2020 census base of 296,195, to 306,235 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 3,017 births against 2,363 deaths, with net migration of 1,993. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Ottawa County?
$90,502. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $323,400, which is 3.6 times income, and median gross rent is $1,211 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Ottawa County?
6,865 establishments, employing 117,661 people with an annual payroll of $6.38 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Ottawa County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 40,464 jobs, 30.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 131,885 jobs at an average annual pay of $59,813, or $1,150 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Ottawa County?
537 7(a) approvals totaling $213.1 m since FY2020, across 57 lenders, with a median approval of $113,700, plus 201 504 approvals worth $150.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Ottawa County get paid back?
Of the 125 loans that have reached a final outcome, 123 were paid in full and 2 charged off, a charge-off rate of 1.6 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Ottawa County?
1,235 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $361.9 m. Multifamily was 36.9 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Ottawa County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Ottawa County come from?
The largest single origin is Kent County, with 2,742 households. Arriving households report an average income of $73,923 against $68,160 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Ottawa County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Ottawa County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Ottawa County
Cities and places in Ottawa.
12 Census places lie wholly or partly in Ottawa County. All 12 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holland | city | 34,423 | 163 | 51.7 percent here, 48.3 percent Allegan County |
| Allendale | CDP | 26,679 | 33 | Wholly in this county |
| Jenison | CDP | 17,582 | 34 | Wholly in this county |
| Grand Haven | city | 10,996 | 80 | Wholly in this county |
| Hudsonville | city | 7,769 | 78 | Wholly in this county |
| Zeeland | city | 5,665 | 49 | Wholly in this county |
| Coopersville | city | 4,848 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Ferrysburg | city | 2,959 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Beechwood | CDP | 2,776 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Spring Lake | village | 2,519 | 34 | Wholly in this county |
| Lamont | CDP | 1,177 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Nunica | CDP | 295 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
A further 48 of the county's 537 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Ottawa County, the largest being Grand Rapids (11), Grandville (11), West Olive (10). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby