1st Advantage MortgageThe median Kay County household earns $58,423, and 16% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Kay County, OK: the basics
- Rent, home values and ownership in Kay County
- Paychecks and income spread in Kay County
- Jobs and commutes in Kay County
- Towns and communities in Kay County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- A Kay County household budget, worked through
- Borrowing situations common in Kay County
- Kay County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Licensing and complaints for Kay County
- A Kay County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Kay County, OK: the basics
Roughly 43,625 residents live in Kay County, Oklahoma, 22nd by population among the state's 77 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 920 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 47 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Kay County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Ponca City is the biggest of its 11 Census places, at roughly 24,326 people (56% of the county total).
Rent, home values and ownership in Kay County
Renters in Kay County pay a median of $842 a month, 17% below the Oklahoma figure of $1,014. By the Census definition, 40% of Kay County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $124,700, or 2.1 years of median income. 69% of Kay County households own their home and 31% rent. Median construction year: 1964.
| Kay County | Oklahoma | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $842/mo | $1,014/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $124,700 | $199,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 24% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 12% | n/a |
Paychecks and income spread in Kay County
Kay County households have a median income of $58,423 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 44th of 77 in Oklahoma.
| Household income | Kay County | vs Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.6% | +2.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.6% | +3.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.0% | -3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.7% | -2.5 pts |
Some 29% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 16.0%, 1 point higher than the state's 15.3%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.444 (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.
Jobs and commutes in Kay County
The biggest employer of Kay County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by manufacturing (14%). Manufacturing stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Kay County averages 5.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.0%). Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 6.0% of the total (5.6% statewide).
| Top industries | Kay County share | +/- vs Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.1% | -2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.1% | +4.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.0% | +1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.2% | +1.2 pts |
| Construction | 6.7% | -0.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.4% | -2.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Towns and communities in Kay County
11 Census places fall mainly inside Kay County; the 11 biggest are below. They account for 36,730 residents, leaving about 16% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $58,767 at the median in Tonkawa, $52,639 in Newkirk. Rent is cheapest in Newkirk ($623) and steepest in Ponca City ($850). No Kay County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 11.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ponca City | city | 24,326 | $55,941 | $850 | 8 mi |
| Blackwell | city | 6,042 | $53,435 | $809 | 9 mi |
| Tonkawa | city | 3,014 | $58,767 | $800 | 14 mi |
| Newkirk | city | 2,043 | $52,639 | $623 | 7 mi |
| White Eagle | CDP | 331 | $41,667 | $625 | 13 mi |
| Kaw City | city | 283 | $54,000 | $738 | 16 mi |
| Tonkawa Tribal Housing | CDP | 276 | $41,250 | $440 | 12 mi |
| Braman | town | 179 | $31,875 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Nardin | CDP | 130 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
| Kildare | town | 64 | $58,750 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Peckham | CDP | 42 | $76,250 | n/a | 5 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 30 to 43 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Kay County; Noble County is highest at $66,365 and Cowley County lowest at $57,878. Some neighbors are in Kansas. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Kay County resident follows Oklahoma rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kay County | - | $58,423 | $842/mo | 69% |
| Noble County, OK | 30 mi | $66,365 | $826/mo | 78% |
| Cowley County, KS | 34 mi | $57,878 | $809/mo | 68% |
| Sumner County, KS | 35 mi | $63,951 | $825/mo | 75% |
| Grant County, OK | 36 mi | $60,758 | $853/mo | 76% |
| Pawnee County, OK | 43 mi | $58,738 | $864/mo | 80% |
| Osage County, OK | 43 mi | $62,847 | $777/mo | 78% |
A Kay County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Kay County's medians:
- Start: $4,869 gross per month ($58,423 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $842 uses 17%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $911 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Kay County's.
Borrowing situations common in Kay County
What the Kay County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Medical bills. 11% of Kay County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Consolidating cards in Kay County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Kay County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 19% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 11.3%, against 12.9% for Oklahoma.
| Residents | Kay County | Oklahoma | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 37.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.2% | 28.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.5% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.3% | 12.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 9.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.0% | 15.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.8% | 5.0% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 55.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.6% |
| 60+ min | 5.3% |
Licensing and complaints for Kay County
Consumer lenders serving Kay County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Oklahoma that is the Oklahoma State Banking Department. Consumer lending in Oklahoma is also overseen by the Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Oklahoma state guide for the statewide picture.
A Kay County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Kay County:
- Price the Kay County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- 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 Kay County household make?
About $58,423 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 10% below the Oklahoma median.
How much is rent in Kay County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $842 a month; 40% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Kay County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 11 Census places: Ponca City, Blackwell, Tonkawa, Newkirk, White Eagle.
Is the fit check different in Kay County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Kay County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Oklahoma it is the Oklahoma State Banking Department.