1st Advantage MortgageChoctaw County households have a median income of $44,081 and median rent of $690 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). For a Choctaw County borrower, the useful steps are the same anywhere: price the need, gather three written offers, and check the Oklahoma license.
On this page
- Choctaw County, OK: the basics
- Where Choctaw County differs from the rest of Oklahoma
- Where Choctaw County households live
- Choctaw County income bands
- How Choctaw County residents earn a living
- Choctaw County, Lamar County and other neighbors
- Hugo and the rest of Choctaw County
- $3,673 a month: the Choctaw County median budget
- Local borrowing considerations for Choctaw County
- Choctaw County demographics against Oklahoma
- Checking a lender's license in Oklahoma
- A Choctaw County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Choctaw County, OK: the basics
With an estimated 14,297 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Choctaw County ranks 48th of 77 in Oklahoma for population. Land area is 770 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 19 per square mile. Metro status: none; Choctaw County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. Of the 7 Census places inside Choctaw County, Hugo leads by population with about 5,182; 5 of the 7 are incorporated.
Where Choctaw County differs from the rest of Oklahoma
Out of every Oklahoma county, Choctaw County is most unusual on these measures.
- On the poverty rate, Choctaw County sits near the top of Oklahoma at 23.2%, 2nd highest of 77. Nonprofit credit counseling is free or low cost and worth a call first.
- On median household income, Choctaw County sits near the bottom of Oklahoma at $44,081, 3rd lowest of 77. Where incomes run low, free assistance and credit-union small-dollar loans deserve a look first.
- Few Oklahoma counties match Choctaw County on households without a vehicle: 8.0% here, 5.6% for the state, ranking 7th highest of 77. Without a car, transit and ride costs belong in the budget before any payment.
Where Choctaw County households live
Choctaw County rent at the median: $690 a month, utilities in ($1,014 in Oklahoma). Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 45% in Choctaw County, 46% statewide. With a median value of $126,500, a typical Choctaw County house costs 2.9 times what the median household earns in a year. 66% of Choctaw County households own their home and 34% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1982. Nationally, Choctaw County's $690 rent is 21% below the middle county.
| Cost | Choctaw County | Oklahoma figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burdened owners | 31% | 24% | +6.9 pts |
| Vacant units | 17% | 12% | +4.8 pts |
| Median home value | $126,500 | $199,800 | 37% lower |
| Median gross rent | $690/mo | $1,014/mo | 32% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 46% | -1.0 pts |
| Owners | 66% | 66% | 0.0 pts |
Choctaw County income bands
At $44,081, the typical Choctaw County household income is 33% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 75th of 77.
| Income band | Share in Choctaw County | Difference from Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 41.9% | +15.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.7% | -2.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 14.5% | -8.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.0% | -4.3 pts |
About 42% of households earn under $35,000, while 17% clear $100,000. 23.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 15.3%). Gini index for Choctaw County: 0.485. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Choctaw County residents earn a living
Top Choctaw County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 23%; second, arts, lodging and food service, 14%. Choctaw County over-indexes on arts, lodging and food service: 14% versus 9% in Oklahoma. 4.8% of Choctaw County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Choctaw County | Compared with Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.5% | -0.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 13.9% | +4.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.9% | +1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -1.0 pts |
| Construction | 6.3% | -1.1 pts |
| Public administration | 6.3% | 0.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Choctaw County, Lamar County and other neighbors
Six nearby counties, 25 to 44 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. All of the six report a higher median household income than Choctaw County; Fannin County is highest at $72,295 and Pushmataha County lowest at $47,940. The list crosses into Texas, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choctaw County | - | $44,081 | $690/mo | 66% |
| Lamar County, TX | 25 mi | $61,880 | $949/mo | 66% |
| Pushmataha County, OK | 26 mi | $47,940 | $667/mo | 75% |
| Atoka County, OK | 37 mi | $54,785 | $708/mo | 74% |
| Red River County, TX | 40 mi | $48,491 | $1,044/mo | 71% |
| Bryan County, OK | 41 mi | $57,225 | $960/mo | 64% |
| Fannin County, TX | 44 mi | $72,295 | $1,035/mo | 79% |
Hugo and the rest of Choctaw County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Choctaw County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 7,301 people, so roughly 49% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $50,938 at the median in Fort Towson, $25,662 in Boswell. None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hugo | city | 5,182 | $33,917 | $638 | 3 mi |
| Boswell | town | 690 | $25,662 | $608 | 18 mi |
| Fort Towson | town | 546 | $50,938 | $825 | 16 mi |
| Sawyer | town | 432 | $67,188 | $825 | 10 mi |
| Soper | town | 205 | $41,875 | $675 | 8 mi |
| Grant | CDP | 176 | $20,769 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Swink | CDP | 70 | n/a | n/a | 20 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
$3,673 a month: the Choctaw County median budget
Choctaw County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Choctaw County: $3,673
- Housing at the median rent of $690 uses 19%
- With a 36% ceiling, about $632 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Local borrowing considerations for Choctaw County
Based on the Choctaw County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Care without coverage. About 2,525 Choctaw County residents lack insurance; check charity care before a loan (how).
- Mobile home upkeep. 14% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Before borrowing. At 23.2% poverty, Choctaw County has local aid programs worth checking (options).
- Choctaw County rent burden. 45% of renters are cost-burdened; ask your landlord about a payment plan before borrowing for rent.
Choctaw County demographics against Oklahoma
College graduates make up 15% of the adult population. Health coverage gaps: 17.7% of Choctaw County residents are uninsured.
| Residents | Choctaw County | Difference from Oklahoma | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.2% | -13.1 pts | -6.9 pts |
| Poverty rate | 23.2% | +7.9 pts | +10.0 pts |
| Median age | 42.1 | +5.1 yrs | +0.6 yrs |
| No health insurance | 17.7% | +4.8 pts | +9.8 pts |
| Work from home | 6.0% | -3.4 pts | -2.7 pts |
| No vehicle | 8.0% | +2.4 pts | +2.5 pts |
| No high school diploma | 12.6% | +2.0 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | -0.2 pts | +0.4 pts |
| Commute length | Choctaw County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.2% |
Checking a lender's license in Oklahoma
The Oklahoma State Banking Department is the place to verify any lender's Oklahoma license. The Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit handles consumer-credit questions as well. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Oklahoma guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Choctaw County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Choctaw County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Choctaw County?
$44,081 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $65,039 for Oklahoma. It ranks 75th of 77 in the state.
Is Choctaw County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $690 against $1,014 statewide, and 45% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Hugo?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Choctaw County, such as Boswell, Fort Towson, Sawyer.
Will a Choctaw County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Oklahoma as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Choctaw County check a lender's license?
With the Oklahoma State Banking Department. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.