1st Advantage MortgageIn Dewey County, Oklahoma, the typical household earns $62,569 a year and the typical rent is $912. 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
- Getting oriented in Dewey County
- How much Dewey County households make
- How Dewey County residents earn a living
- Rent, home values and ownership in Dewey County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Dewey County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Budget math at the Dewey County median
- Reading the Dewey County data as a borrower
- People and households in Dewey County
- Before you sign
- Oklahoma rules that apply in Dewey County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Dewey County
With an estimated 4,360 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Dewey County ranks 71st of 77 in Oklahoma for population. Spread over 1,000 square miles, that works out to roughly 4.4 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Dewey County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Seiling is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 824 people (19% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Dewey County estimates can move a lot between releases.
How much Dewey County households make
Half of Dewey County households take in less than $62,569 a year and half take in more, 4% below the Oklahoma median of $65,039.
| Band | Dewey County | Compared with Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.5% | -1.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.9% | +2.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.6% | +2.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.0% | -3.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Dewey County households make $100,000 or more, and 25% make less than $35,000. Census counts 14.1% of Dewey County residents in poverty, against 15.3% across Oklahoma. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.426 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Dewey County residents earn a living
Agriculture, forestry and mining employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 15%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 20% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.5% in Dewey County. Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Dewey County | Compared with Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 19.8% | +16.2 pts |
| Education and health care | 15.0% | -8.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.2% | +1.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.7% | +2.6 pts |
| Other services | 7.8% | +2.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.9% | -2.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Rent, home values and ownership in Dewey County
A typical Dewey County rental runs $912 a month including utilities, which is 10% below Oklahoma. By the Census definition, 37% of Dewey County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $133,600, or 2.1 years of median income. Owners occupy 76% of homes. Median construction year: 1974.
| Housing | Dewey County | Oklahoma statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $912/mo | $1,014/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $133,600 | $199,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 15% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 21.2% | 8.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 25% | 12% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Cities, towns and CDPs in Dewey County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Dewey County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 2,570 residents, leaving about 41% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 8 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seiling | city | 824 | $53,409 | $1,035 | 13 mi |
| Vici | town | 725 | $54,375 | $879 | 20 mi |
| Leedey | town | 406 | $78,472 | $744 | 20 mi |
| Taloga | town | 327 | $63,750 | $920 | 5 mi |
| Camargo | town | 134 | $33,125 | $656 | 16 mi |
| Oakwood | town | 52 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
| Fay | CDP | 51 | n/a | n/a | 23 mi |
| Putnam | town | 51 | $55,833 | n/a | 9 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 23 to 45 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Dewey County; Major County is highest at $71,266 and Custer County lowest at $59,738.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dewey County | - | $62,569 | $912/mo | 76% |
| Custer County, OK | 23 mi | $59,738 | $824/mo | 60% |
| Blaine County, OK | 33 mi | $61,642 | $852/mo | 73% |
| Woodward County, OK | 34 mi | $61,417 | $838/mo | 73% |
| Major County, OK | 35 mi | $71,266 | $696/mo | 82% |
| Ellis County, OK | 44 mi | $61,016 | $815/mo | 82% |
| Roger Mills County, OK | 45 mi | $66,094 | $795/mo | 83% |
Budget math at the Dewey County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Dewey County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Dewey County: $5,214
- Housing at the median rent of $912 uses 17%
- $965: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Dewey County's.
Reading the Dewey County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Dewey County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Dewey County. For the 13% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- 21% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
People and households in Dewey County
College graduates make up 22% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 12.6%, against 12.9% for Oklahoma.
| Dewey County | Oklahoma | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 37.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.4% | 28.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.1% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.6% | 12.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.5% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 9.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.1% | 15.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | 5.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Dewey County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.4% |
| 60+ min | 4.8% |
Before you sign
A short checklist for Dewey County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Oklahoma.
- Ask a Dewey County credit union about member loans.
Oklahoma rules that apply in Dewey County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Dewey County, check the Oklahoma State Banking Department. The Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit handles consumer-credit questions as well. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Oklahoma guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Oklahoma guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Dewey County?
$62,569 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $65,039 for Oklahoma. It ranks 24th of 77 in the state.
Is Dewey County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $912 against $1,014 statewide, and 37% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Dewey County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Dewey County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Dewey County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 8 Census places: Seiling, Vici, Leedey, Taloga, Camargo.
Is the fit check different in Dewey County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.