1st Advantage MortgageThe median Ellis County household earns $61,016, and 13% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Oklahoma license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Ellis County
- Paychecks and income spread in Ellis County
- What it costs to live in Ellis County
- The Ellis County job picture
- How Ellis County compares with nearby counties
- The communities that make up Ellis County
- A Ellis County household budget, worked through
- People and households in Ellis County
- Reading the Ellis County data as a borrower
- Before you sign
- Oklahoma rules that apply in Ellis County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Ellis County
Roughly 3,683 residents live in Ellis County, Oklahoma, 73rd by population among the state's 77 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 1,231 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 3 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Ellis County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Shattuck is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 1,212 people (33% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Ellis County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Paychecks and income spread in Ellis County
Ellis County households have a median income of $61,016 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 32nd of 77 in Oklahoma.
| Yearly household income | Ellis County | Gap to Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.4% | +2.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.5% | +6.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.3% | -3.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.8% | -5.5 pts |
About 28% of households earn under $35,000, while 22% clear $100,000. 13.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 15.3%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.400 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Ellis County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Ellis County
Renters in Ellis County pay a median of $815 a month, 20% below the Oklahoma figure of $1,014. 29% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 17% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $119,100, about 2.0 times the median household income. Owners occupy 82% of homes. Median construction year: 1969.
| Cost | Ellis County | Oklahoma figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $815/mo | $1,014/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $119,100 | $199,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 29% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 14.3% | 8.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 31% | 12% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Ellis County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
The Ellis County job picture
The biggest employer of Ellis County residents, by industry, is agriculture, forestry and mining at 19% of workers, followed by education and health care (16%). Compared with Oklahoma, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (19% against 4%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. 3.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Ellis County | Difference from Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 18.8% | +15.1 pts |
| Education and health care | 16.1% | -7.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.5% | +2.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.4% | +3.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +1.2 pts |
| Public administration | 6.8% | +0.5 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 Ellis County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 29 to 44 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. All of the six report a higher median household income than Ellis County; Lipscomb County is highest at $72,560 and Woodward County lowest at $61,417. The list crosses into Texas, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellis County | - | $61,016 | $815/mo | 82% |
| Lipscomb County, TX | 29 mi | $72,560 | $876/mo | 82% |
| Woodward County, OK | 30 mi | $61,417 | $838/mo | 73% |
| Roger Mills County, OK | 36 mi | $66,094 | $795/mo | 83% |
| Harper County, OK | 40 mi | $64,053 | $828/mo | 84% |
| Hemphill County, TX | 41 mi | $61,563 | $836/mo | 71% |
| Dewey County, OK | 44 mi | $62,569 | $912/mo | 76% |
The communities that make up Ellis County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Ellis County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 2,441 residents, leaving about 34% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 4 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shattuck | town | 1,212 | $54,868 | $892 | 8 mi |
| Arnett | town | 525 | $54,688 | $758 | 6 mi |
| Gage | town | 397 | $43,750 | $826 | 6 mi |
| Fargo | town | 307 | $70,114 | $663 | 13 mi |
A Ellis County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Ellis County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Ellis County: $5,085
- Rent at the median, $815, takes 16% of that
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,371 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Ellis County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
People and households in Ellis County
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Ellis County | Oklahoma | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 37.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.4% | 28.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.1% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.1% | 12.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.9% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 9.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.0% | 15.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 5.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Ellis County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.7% |
| 60+ min | 8.3% |
Reading the Ellis County data as a borrower
Based on the Ellis County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Ellis County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 14% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Ellis County residents:
- Price the Ellis County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Oklahoma.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Oklahoma rules that apply in Ellis County
Ellis County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Oklahoma State Banking Department. The Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit handles consumer-credit questions as well. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Oklahoma guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Oklahoma guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Ellis County household make?
About $61,016 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 6% below the Oklahoma median.
What do renters pay in Ellis County?
$815 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
Which towns does the Ellis County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Shattuck, Arnett, Gage, Fargo.
Can Ellis 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.
Where can someone in Ellis 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.