1st Advantage Mortgage23% of Cherokee County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $53,218 (ACS 2020-24). County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving Cherokee County, and confirm each one's Oklahoma license.
On this page
- A quick profile of Cherokee County
- Cherokee County at the extremes
- Rent, home values and ownership in Cherokee County
- Labor force snapshot: Cherokee County
- Cherokee County income bands
- The counties around Cherokee County
- Tahlequah and the rest of Cherokee County
- Reading the Cherokee County data as a borrower
- Debt-to-income at Cherokee County's medians
- More Cherokee County figures
- Who licenses lenders for Cherokee County residents
- Checklist for Cherokee County applicants
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Cherokee County
Roughly 47,942 residents live in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, 19th by population among the state's 77 counties and county equivalents. Cherokee County spans 749 square miles; with 47,942 people, that is 64.0 per square mile. Cherokee County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Largest place: Tahlequah, about 16,935 residents (35% of Cherokee County); 30 Census places in all.
Cherokee County at the extremes
Where Cherokee County lands at the extremes of Oklahoma's county rankings:
- Cherokee County ranks 10th lowest of 77 Oklahoma counties for homeownership: 66%, against 66% statewide. In a renter-heavy county, unsecured loans and cards are the main options.
- Few Oklahoma counties match Cherokee County on the uninsured rate: 18.2% here, 12.9% for the state, ranking 9th highest of 77. Hospital payment plans are usually interest-free; compare before a loan.
- Cherokee County ranks 11th highest of 77 Oklahoma counties for the share of mobile homes: 19.2%, against 8.2% statewide. Manufactured homes often do not qualify for home equity loans, so unsecured loans fill the gap.
Rent, home values and ownership in Cherokee County
Half of Cherokee County renters pay more than $831 a month and half pay less; the Oklahoma midpoint is $1,014. About 4 in 10 Cherokee County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $168,500, about 3.2 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 66%. Nationally, Cherokee County's $831 rent is 5% below the middle county.
| Measure | Cherokee County | Oklahoma | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile homes | 19.2% | 8.2% | +11.0 pts |
| Vacant units | 16% | 12% | +4.4 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 46% | -3.9 pts |
| Median gross rent | $831/mo | $1,014/mo | 18% lower |
| Median home value | $168,500 | $199,800 | 16% lower |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 24% | +0.6 pts |
| Owners | 66% | 66% | -0.1 pts |
Labor force snapshot: Cherokee County
The biggest employer of Cherokee County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 31% of workers, followed by arts, lodging and food service (10%). Education and health care stands out: 31% of workers here, versus 23% statewide. 5.1% of Cherokee County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. 16% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. No car: 6.9% of Cherokee County households.
| Industry | Share of Cherokee County workers | vs Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.8% | +7.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.8% | +0.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.6% | -2.2 pts |
| Public administration | 9.3% | +3.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | 0.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.5% | -2.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Cherokee County income bands
At $53,218, the typical Cherokee County household income is 19% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 56th among Oklahoma's 77 county-level areas.
| Band | Cherokee County | Compared with Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.7% | +6.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.3% | +1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.7% | -4.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.3% | -2.9 pts |
33% under $35,000 and 23% at $100,000 or more: that is the Cherokee County income split. Cherokee County counts about 8,732 residents below the poverty line, 18.2% of the population. Gini index for Cherokee County: 0.455. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
The counties around Cherokee County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Cherokee County's, from 19 to 35 miles away. Cherokee County's $53,218 median trails 4 of the six and beats 2; the range runs $48,041 (Adair County) to $81,207 (Wagoner County).
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee County | - | $53,218 | $831/mo | 66% |
| Adair County, OK | 19 mi | $48,041 | $667/mo | 69% |
| Wagoner County, OK | 29 mi | $81,207 | $1,068/mo | 81% |
| Muskogee County, OK | 29 mi | $53,619 | $849/mo | 67% |
| Mayes County, OK | 31 mi | $60,305 | $858/mo | 74% |
| Sequoyah County, OK | 31 mi | $51,093 | $811/mo | 71% |
| Delaware County, OK | 35 mi | $56,676 | $913/mo | 77% |
Tahlequah and the rest of Cherokee County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 30 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 76% of Cherokee County residents live in one of the 30. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $38,600 in Keys to $88,661 in Norwood. From Tahlequah to the smallest crossroads, Cherokee County residents share this guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tahlequah | city | 16,935 | $49,581 | $835 | 1 mi |
| Park Hill | CDP | 3,237 | $47,064 | $798 | 5 mi |
| Norwood | CDP | 1,752 | $88,661 | $833 | 10 mi |
| Grandview | CDP | 1,251 | $73,688 | $850 | 4 mi |
| Briggs | CDP | 1,131 | $47,250 | $868 | 7 mi |
| Moodys | CDP | 1,108 | $49,355 | $836 | 9 mi |
| Woodall | CDP | 1,050 | $58,571 | $883 | 7 mi |
| Keys | CDP | 982 | $38,600 | $836 | 8 mi |
| Cookson | CDP | 921 | $49,983 | $830 | 13 mi |
| Peggs | CDP | 858 | $61,731 | $565 | 12 mi |
| Lost City | CDP | 852 | $64,375 | $1,667 | 10 mi |
| Pettit | CDP | 816 | $59,054 | $1,125 | 9 mi |
| Welling | CDP | 720 | $47,135 | $657 | 7 mi |
| Zeb | CDP | 522 | $56,058 | $1,156 | 8 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Reading the Cherokee County data as a borrower
What the Cherokee County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- 18% uninsured. In Cherokee County, ask for an itemized bill and a payment plan first (medical bills).
- Manufactured housing (19%). Cherokee County owners should get two written repair quotes before borrowing.
- Help that costs nothing. About 8,732 Cherokee County residents live in poverty; see free options before a loan.
Debt-to-income at Cherokee County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Cherokee County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $53,218 a year is $4,435 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $831, which is 19% of it
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,076 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $831, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
More Cherokee County figures
In Cherokee County, 29% of adults have at least a four-year degree (28% in Oklahoma). The uninsured rate is 18.2%, against 12.9% for Oklahoma.
| Cherokee County | vs Oklahoma | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No health insurance | 18.2% | +5.4 pts | +10.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 18.2% | +2.9 pts | +5.0 pts |
| Work from home | 7.8% | -1.5 pts | -0.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.9% | +1.3 pts | +1.4 pts |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.2% | +0.8 pts | +7.0 pts |
| Median age | 37.3 | +0.3 yrs | -4.2 yrs |
| No high school diploma | 10.8% | +0.2 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | +0.2 pts | +0.7 pts |
| Minutes to work | Cherokee County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.3% |
| 60+ min | 8.9% |
Who licenses lenders for Cherokee County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Cherokee County borrowers answers to the Oklahoma State Banking Department. For consumer-credit complaints, Oklahoma residents can also contact the Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Oklahoma page has statewide figures to set beside Cherokee County's.
Checklist for Cherokee County applicants
Steps that save money for Cherokee County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Cherokee County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Oklahoma license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Keep exploring
Next step up from Cherokee County:
Frequently asked questions
Is Cherokee County a high-income county?
Its $53,218 median ranks 56th of 77 Oklahoma counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Cherokee County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $831 against $1,014 statewide, and 42% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live near Tahlequah. Which guide is mine?
This one. Tahlequah and the rest of Cherokee County have no separate city guide.
Does living in Cherokee County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Cherokee County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
What agency protects Cherokee County borrowers?
The Oklahoma State Banking Department at the state level and the CFPB federally.