1st Advantage MortgageDelaware County households have a median income of $56,676 and median rent of $913 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Oklahoma before sharing details.
On this page
- Delaware County, OK: the basics
- Employment and commuting in Delaware County
- How much Delaware County households make
- Renting and owning in Delaware County
- Delaware County towns compared
- The counties around Delaware County
- Room for a loan payment in Delaware County
- Before borrowing in Delaware County
- People and households in Delaware County
- Lender oversight for Delaware County
- A Delaware County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Delaware County, OK: the basics
Delaware County is home to about 41,279 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 25th most populous of 77 county-level areas in Oklahoma. It covers 738 square miles of land, or about 56 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Delaware County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 33 places in the county (8 incorporated, 25 census-designated); the largest is Grove, with about 7,176 residents, or 17% of the county.
Employment and commuting in Delaware County
The biggest employer of Delaware County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by manufacturing (14%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 14% locally and 9% for Oklahoma. The survey's unemployment rate for Delaware County averages 5.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.0%). 23% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Delaware County workers | vs Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | -1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.8% | +4.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.7% | +0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.1% | 0.0 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.0% | -2.3 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 much Delaware County households make
Delaware County households have a median income of $56,676 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 47th of 77 in Oklahoma.
| Yearly household income | Delaware County | Gap to Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.0% | +5.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.0% | +0.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.3% | -5.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.8% | -1.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 24% of Delaware County households make $100,000 or more, and 32% make less than $35,000. Census counts 19.0% of Delaware County residents in poverty, against 15.3% across Oklahoma. For a borrower in Delaware County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Renting and owning in Delaware County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $913 in Delaware County versus $1,014 statewide. 45% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. Home values center on $175,300, or 3.1 years of median income. Owners occupy 77% of homes. Median construction year: 1987.
| Housing | Delaware County | Oklahoma statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $913/mo | $1,014/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $175,300 | $199,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 24% | n/a |
Because most Delaware County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Delaware County towns compared
The table lists the 14 largest of 33 Census places in Delaware County, by population. Together all 33 hold about 21,963 people, so roughly 47% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $82,321 at the median in Cleora, $31,094 in Colcord. Rent is cheapest in Kenwood ($678) and steepest in West Siloam Springs ($968). This guide covers each of the 33 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grove | city | 7,176 | $58,941 | $925 | 13 mi |
| Jay | city | 2,731 | $38,094 | $765 | 2 mi |
| Cleora | CDP | 1,477 | $82,321 | $888 | 16 mi |
| Copeland | CDP | 1,401 | $57,558 | $816 | 19 mi |
| West Siloam Springs | town | 1,286 | $59,904 | $968 | 19 mi |
| Kenwood | CDP | 1,284 | $58,135 | $678 | 12 mi |
| Colcord | town | 910 | $31,094 | $830 | 11 mi |
| Kansas | town | 748 | $33,438 | $920 | 13 mi |
| Flint Creek | CDP | 627 | $48,036 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Ketchum | town | 499 | $55,000 | $775 | 15 mi |
| Bernice | town | 396 | $40,833 | $742 | 17 mi |
| Dennis | CDP | 396 | $87,589 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Leach | CDP | 349 | $70,938 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Oaks | town | 295 | $46,875 | $800 | 16 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
The counties around Delaware County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Delaware County's, from 25 to 35 miles away. Benton County leads the group on income ($93,506), Adair County trails ($48,041), and Delaware County out-earns 4 of the six. The list crosses into Arkansas, Missouri, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware County | - | $56,676 | $913/mo | 77% |
| Mayes County, OK | 25 mi | $60,305 | $858/mo | 74% |
| McDonald County, MO | 30 mi | $52,375 | $767/mo | 67% |
| Ottawa County, OK | 31 mi | $49,947 | $788/mo | 68% |
| Benton County, AR | 31 mi | $93,506 | $1,277/mo | 67% |
| Craig County, OK | 34 mi | $51,922 | $810/mo | 74% |
| Adair County, OK | 35 mi | $48,041 | $667/mo | 69% |
Room for a loan payment in Delaware County
Here is the Delaware County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Delaware County: $4,723
- Rent at the median, $913, takes 19% of that
- $787: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $913, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Delaware County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Delaware County borrowers.
- Medical bills. 14% of Delaware County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Keeping the car running. At 23% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Delaware County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 25% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Fixed incomes. Delaware County's median age is 46.9. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
People and households in Delaware County
College graduates make up 20% of the adult population. About 14% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Delaware County | Oklahoma | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9 | 37.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.9% | 28.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.5% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.7% | 12.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.0% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 9.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.0% | 15.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.2% | 5.0% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.3% |
| 60+ min | 11.3% |
Lender oversight for Delaware County
The Oklahoma State Banking Department is the place to verify any lender's Oklahoma license. Oklahoma also has the Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit for consumer credit. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Oklahoma guide.
A Delaware County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Oklahoma guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Delaware County earn?
The median is $56,676; 24% earn $100,000 or more and 32% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Delaware County rent compare with Oklahoma?
$913 locally versus $1,014 for the state, 10% below.
I live in a small Delaware County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Grove, Jay, Cleora, Copeland, West Siloam Springs and 28 more.
Are Delaware County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Delaware County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Oklahoma it is the Oklahoma State Banking Department.