1st Advantage MortgageThe median Jefferson County household earns $48,668, and 23% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- A quick profile of Jefferson County
- What it costs to live in Jefferson County
- Income in Jefferson County compared with Oklahoma
- How Jefferson County residents earn a living
- Places inside Jefferson County
- The counties around Jefferson County
- A Jefferson County household budget, worked through
- More Jefferson County figures
- Before borrowing in Jefferson County
- Oklahoma rules that apply in Jefferson County
- Checklist for Jefferson County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Jefferson County
Roughly 5,380 residents live in Jefferson County, Oklahoma, 68th by population among the state's 77 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 759 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 7 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Jefferson County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 8 Census places inside Jefferson County, Waurika leads by population with about 2,004; 8 of the 8 are incorporated. Because Jefferson County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
What it costs to live in Jefferson County
A typical Jefferson County rental runs $647 a month including utilities, which is 36% below Oklahoma. By the Census definition, 36% of Jefferson County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $82,500, or 1.7 years of median income. The ownership rate is 71%. Half the housing stock was built before 1970.
| Measure | Jefferson County | Oklahoma | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $647/mo | $1,014/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $82,500 | $199,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.7% | 8.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 21% | 12% | n/a |
Income in Jefferson County compared with Oklahoma
The median household income in Jefferson County is $48,668; statewide it is $65,039, so Jefferson County runs 25% below Oklahoma as a whole.
| Households earning | Jefferson County | +/- vs Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 39.2% | +12.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.4% | +2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.4% | -9.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.0% | -5.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 15% of Jefferson County households make $100,000 or more, and 39% make less than $35,000. 23.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 15.3%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.459 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Jefferson County median.
How Jefferson County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Jefferson County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 18% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (16%). Compared with Oklahoma, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (16% against 4%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 20% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 9.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Jefferson County | Compared with Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.2% | -5.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 15.9% | +12.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.0% | +3.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | -0.3 pts |
| Construction | 6.7% | -0.7 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Places inside Jefferson County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 78% of Jefferson County residents live in one of the 8. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $41,111 in Ringling to $53,092 in Ryan. Rent is cheapest in Ryan ($500) and steepest in Waurika ($679). No Jefferson County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waurika | city | 2,004 | $45,882 | $679 | 12 mi |
| Ringling | town | 807 | $41,111 | $533 | 15 mi |
| Ryan | town | 795 | $53,092 | $500 | 9 mi |
| Terral | town | 231 | $34,750 | $455 | 15 mi |
| Hastings | town | 124 | $42,813 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Cornish | town | 98 | $39,375 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Addington | town | 91 | $40,000 | $525 | 12 mi |
| Sugden | town | 37 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
The counties around Jefferson County
Stephens County is closest, 26 miles from center to center; the sixth, Love County, is 35 miles off. Income ranges from $58,425 in Cotton County to $80,114 in Clay County; all six of these neighbors top Jefferson County's median. The list crosses into Texas, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | - | $48,668 | $647/mo | 71% |
| Stephens County, OK | 26 mi | $61,620 | $895/mo | 74% |
| Montague County, TX | 30 mi | $64,545 | $1,008/mo | 80% |
| Clay County, TX | 31 mi | $80,114 | $811/mo | 84% |
| Carter County, OK | 33 mi | $60,723 | $980/mo | 67% |
| Cotton County, OK | 33 mi | $58,425 | $772/mo | 80% |
| Love County, OK | 35 mi | $66,580 | $939/mo | 73% |
A Jefferson County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Jefferson County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $4,056 gross per month ($48,668 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $647 uses 16%
- Under a 40% cap, $1,622 total minus rent leaves $975
If your rent is above $647, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
More Jefferson County figures
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. About 14% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Jefferson County | Oklahoma | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 37.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.0% | 28.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.1% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.0% | 12.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.1% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 9.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 23.1% | 15.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.2% | 5.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Jefferson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.9% |
| 60+ min | 8.6% |
Before borrowing in Jefferson County
Where the Jefferson County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Hospital bills in Jefferson County. For the 14% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Vehicle repairs. 20% of Jefferson County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- 23% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
Oklahoma rules that apply in Jefferson County
Consumer lenders serving Jefferson County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Oklahoma that is the Oklahoma State Banking Department. The Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit handles consumer-credit questions as well. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Oklahoma guide.
Checklist for Jefferson County applicants
Steps that save money for Jefferson County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Oklahoma guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Jefferson County household make?
About $48,668 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 25% below the Oklahoma median.
What do renters pay in Jefferson County?
$647 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
I own my home in Jefferson County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 71% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Jefferson County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 8 Census places: Waurika, Ringling, Ryan, Terral, Hastings.
Will a Jefferson County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Oklahoma as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.