1st Advantage MortgageAbout 73% of Blaine County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $61,642. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Blaine County
- Jobs and commutes in Blaine County
- Blaine County income bands
- Where Blaine County households live
- Blaine County's most unusual numbers
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Blaine County
- The counties around Blaine County
- People and households in Blaine County
- Before borrowing in Blaine County
- A Blaine County household budget, worked through
- Who licenses lenders for Blaine County residents
- Steps before you apply in Blaine County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Blaine County
Blaine County is home to about 8,570 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 61st most populous of 77 county-level areas in Oklahoma. Its 928 square miles average 9 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Watonga is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 2,623 people (31% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Blaine County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Jobs and commutes in Blaine County
The biggest employer of Blaine County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 17% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (16%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 16% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Blaine County averages 8.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.0%). Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 3.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Blaine County | Compared with Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 17.0% | -6.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 16.1% | +12.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.9% | +4.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.9% | -2.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.9% | +1.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.2% | -1.8 pts |
Self-employed in Blaine County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
Blaine County income bands
At $61,642, the typical Blaine County household income is 6% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Blaine County | vs Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.3% | -1.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.5% | +3.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.0% | -0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.3% | -2.0 pts |
25% under $35,000 and 28% at $100,000 or more: that is the Blaine County income split. Poverty rate, Blaine County: 17.4%; Oklahoma: 15.3%. Gini index for Blaine County: 0.435. A household earning below the $61,642 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Where Blaine County households live
A typical Blaine County rental runs $852 a month including utilities, which is 16% below Oklahoma. About 4 in 10 Blaine County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Median value $126,900; median income $61,642; ratio 2.1. In Blaine County, 73% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. The median home was built in 1972, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Blaine County | Oklahoma | Compared with Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacant units | 26% | 12% | +14.2 pts |
| Owners | 73% | 66% | +7.7 pts |
| Mobile homes | 15.8% | 8.2% | +7.5 pts |
| Median home value | $126,900 | $199,800 | 36% lower |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 24% | -3.4 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 46% | -3.2 pts |
| Median gross rent | $852/mo | $1,014/mo | 16% lower |
Blaine County owners: get one secured and one unsecured quote, then compare the total cost and what you would put up as collateral (side by side).
Blaine County's most unusual numbers
Out of every Oklahoma county, Blaine County is most unusual on these measures.
- Blaine County ranks the highest of 77 Oklahoma counties for the ACS unemployment rate: 8.4%, against 5.0% statewide. If work is uncertain, keep any loan small and the term short.
- The share of workers who work from home: 2.6% in Blaine County. Only 4 of 77 Oklahoma counties are lower. Most workers travel to a job here, so commuting costs are part of the budget.
- Blaine County ranks 11th highest of 77 Oklahoma counties for the housing vacancy rate: 26%, against 12% statewide. High vacancy often reflects seasonal or second homes.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Blaine County
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 78% of Blaine County residents live in one of the 10. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $20,076, Canton over Hydro. Rent is cheapest in Watonga ($784) and steepest in Geary ($974). No Blaine County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 10.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watonga | city | 2,623 | $54,081 | $784 | 3 mi |
| Okeene | town | 1,212 | $57,917 | $886 | 18 mi |
| Hydro | town | 1,157 | $40,341 | $784 | 24 mi |
| Geary | city | 841 | $50,677 | $974 | 18 mi |
| Canton | town | 522 | $60,417 | $788 | 15 mi |
| Longdale | town | 146 | $53,750 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Greenfield | town | 113 | $73,250 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Hitchcock | town | 40 | $57,188 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Homestead | CDP | 39 | n/a | n/a | 19 mi |
| Eagle City | CDP | 12 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
The counties around Blaine County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (28 to 49 miles). Blaine County's $61,642 median trails 4 of the six and beats 2; the range runs $55,353 (Caddo County) to $87,751 (Canadian County).
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blaine County | - | $61,642 | $852/mo | 73% |
| Kingfisher County, OK | 28 mi | $71,975 | $891/mo | 75% |
| Major County, OK | 31 mi | $71,266 | $696/mo | 82% |
| Dewey County, OK | 33 mi | $62,569 | $912/mo | 76% |
| Canadian County, OK | 34 mi | $87,751 | $1,289/mo | 75% |
| Custer County, OK | 36 mi | $59,738 | $824/mo | 60% |
| Caddo County, OK | 49 mi | $55,353 | $734/mo | 73% |
People and households in Blaine County
18% of Blaine County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. Health coverage gaps: 11.6% of Blaine County residents are uninsured.
| Blaine County | vs Oklahoma | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.1% | -10.3 pts | -4.1 pts |
| Work from home | 2.6% | -6.7 pts | -6.0 pts |
| Median age | 41.2 | +4.2 yrs | -0.3 yrs |
| No high school diploma | 14.1% | +3.5 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.4% | +3.4 pts | +4.0 pts |
| No vehicle | 3.3% | -2.3 pts | -2.1 pts |
| Poverty rate | 17.4% | +2.0 pts | +4.2 pts |
| No health insurance | 11.6% | -1.3 pts | +3.7 pts |
| Minutes to work | Blaine County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 50.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.4% |
| 60+ min | 6.9% |
Before borrowing in Blaine County
Based on the Blaine County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Care without coverage. About 993 Blaine County residents lack insurance; check charity care before a loan (how).
- Manufactured homes. 16% of Blaine County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
A Blaine County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Blaine County's medians:
- $5,137 a month: gross income for a household at the Blaine County median
- Median rent: $852, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 40% ceiling, about $1,203 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Homeowners in Blaine County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Who licenses lenders for Blaine County residents
Blaine County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Oklahoma State Banking Department. Oklahoma also has the Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit for consumer credit. If a Blaine County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. Statewide data and rules: Oklahoma guide.
Steps before you apply in Blaine County
Steps that save money for Blaine County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Oklahoma license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
Next step up from Blaine County:
Frequently asked questions
Is Blaine County a high-income county?
Its $61,642 median ranks 28th of 77 Oklahoma counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Blaine County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $852 against $1,014 statewide, and 43% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Watonga?
Yes, along with the other 9 Census places in Blaine County, such as Okeene, Hydro, Geary.
Is the fit check different in Blaine County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Blaine County?
Start with the Oklahoma State Banking Department, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.