1st Advantage MortgageIn Coal County, Oklahoma, the typical household earns $50,423 a year and the typical rent is $722. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Coal County
- What it costs to live in Coal County
- How much Coal County households make
- How Coal County residents earn a living
- How Coal County compares with nearby counties
- The communities that make up Coal County
- A Coal County household budget, worked through
- More Coal County figures
- Reading the Coal County data as a borrower
- Checklist for Coal County applicants
- Who licenses lenders for Coal County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Coal County
With an estimated 5,320 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Coal County ranks 69th of 77 in Oklahoma for population. It covers 517 square miles of land, or about 10 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (5 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Coalgate, with about 1,894 residents, or 36% of the county. With so few households sampled, Coal County estimates can move a lot between releases.
What it costs to live in Coal County
Renters in Coal County pay a median of $722 a month, 29% below the Oklahoma figure of $1,014. By the Census definition, 40% of Coal County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $115,700, or 2.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 69%.
| Housing | Coal County | Oklahoma statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $722/mo | $1,014/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $115,700 | $199,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.9% | 8.2% | n/a |
How much Coal County households make
At $50,423, the typical Coal County household income is 23% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 63rd of 77.
| Band | Coal County | Compared with Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.2% | +10.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.6% | -1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.8% | -6.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -2.8 pts |
Some 37% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 21% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 20.8%, 5 points higher than the state's 15.3%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.466 here. None of these numbers decides a Coal County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Coal County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; public administration is next with 12%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Coal County averages 7.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.0%). Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Coal County workers | vs Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.4% | +1.2 pts |
| Public administration | 11.7% | +5.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.5% | +6.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -1.5 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.1% | -1.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How Coal County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (19 to 43 miles). Income ranges from $51,581 in Hughes County to $63,017 in Pontotoc County; all six of these neighbors top Coal County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coal County | - | $50,423 | $722/mo | 69% |
| Atoka County, OK | 19 mi | $54,785 | $708/mo | 74% |
| Pontotoc County, OK | 25 mi | $63,017 | $889/mo | 66% |
| Johnston County, OK | 28 mi | $52,688 | $762/mo | 72% |
| Hughes County, OK | 33 mi | $51,581 | $660/mo | 74% |
| Pittsburg County, OK | 39 mi | $55,310 | $860/mo | 71% |
| Bryan County, OK | 43 mi | $57,225 | $960/mo | 64% |
The communities that make up Coal County
7 Census places fall mainly inside Coal County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 3,028 residents, leaving about 43% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Coal County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coalgate | city | 1,894 | $45,938 | $706 | 5 mi |
| Tupelo | city | 401 | $37,500 | $925 | 8 mi |
| Lehigh | city | 223 | $57,756 | $875 | 8 mi |
| Clarita | CDP | 184 | $32,206 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Phillips | town | 131 | $76,250 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Cottonwood | CDP | 126 | $48,333 | $582 | 5 mi |
| Centrahoma | city | 69 | $39,250 | n/a | 4 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
A Coal County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Coal County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $50,423 a year is $4,202 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $722, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 43% cap, $1,807 total minus rent leaves $1,085
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Coal County's.
More Coal County figures
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 22.4%, against 12.9% for Oklahoma.
| People and households | Coal County | Oklahoma | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 37.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.3% | 28.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.4% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 22.4% | 12.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 9.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.8% | 15.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.5% | 5.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Coal County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.5% |
| 60+ min | 4.1% |
Reading the Coal County data as a borrower
Where the Coal County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Medical bills. 22% of Coal County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Assistance before credit. With a 21% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Coal County loan.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Checklist for Coal County applicants
Steps that save money for Coal County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Coal County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Who licenses lenders for Coal County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Coal County borrowers answers to the Oklahoma State Banking Department. Oklahoma also has the Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit for consumer credit. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Oklahoma: Oklahoma personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Oklahoma guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Coal County earn?
The median is $50,423; 21% earn $100,000 or more and 37% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Coal County rent compare with Oklahoma?
$722 locally versus $1,014 for the state, 29% below.
Does this page cover Coalgate?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Coal County, such as Tupelo, Lehigh, Clarita.
Can Coal County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Oklahoma county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Coal County residents?
The Oklahoma State Banking Department licenses consumer lenders in Oklahoma; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.