1st Advantage MortgageMajor County households have a median income of $71,266 and median rent of $696 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Getting oriented in Major County
- Housing costs in Major County
- Paychecks and income spread in Major County
- The Major County job picture
- Places inside Major County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Who lives in Major County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Major County
- Debt-to-income at Major County's medians
- Oklahoma rules that apply in Major County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Major County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Major County's population at 7,628; only 62 of Oklahoma's 77 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 955 square miles, that works out to roughly 8.0 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Major County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (5 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Fairview, with about 2,687 residents, or 35% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Major County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Housing costs in Major County
Renters in Major County pay a median of $696 a month, 31% below the Oklahoma figure of $1,014. By the Census definition, 42% of Major County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $149,600, a typical Major County house costs 2.1 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 82%. Half the housing stock was built before 1976.
| Home costs | Major County | Oklahoma | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $696/mo | $1,014/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $149,600 | $199,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.4% | 8.2% | n/a |
Because most Major 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.
Paychecks and income spread in Major County
Half of Major County households take in less than $71,266 a year and half take in more, 10% above the Oklahoma median of $65,039.
| Band | Major County | Compared with Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.2% | -5.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.0% | +2.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.7% | +4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -2.1 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 33% clear $100,000. Census counts 11.0% of Major County residents in poverty, against 15.3% across Oklahoma. A household earning below the $71,266 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Major County job picture
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Major County residents work in education and health care and 18% in agriculture, forestry and mining. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 18% locally and 4% for Oklahoma. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.6% in Major County. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 2.8% of the total (5.6% statewide).
| Where residents work | Major County | Difference from Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.9% | -0.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 17.7% | +14.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.5% | +1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.7% | -2.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Other services | 7.1% | +2.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Major County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Places inside Major County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 54% of Major County residents live in one of the 7. None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairview | city | 2,687 | $54,688 | $656 | 5 mi |
| Ringwood | town | 525 | $69,500 | $931 | 18 mi |
| Cleo Springs | town | 336 | $46,316 | $933 | 9 mi |
| Ames | town | 220 | $49,231 | n/a | 20 mi |
| Isabella | CDP | 145 | $61,250 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Meno | town | 144 | $101,250 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Chester | CDP | 89 | $130,500 | n/a | 22 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Major County's, from 31 to 42 miles away. Garfield County leads the group on income ($66,182), Woods County trails ($53,275), and Major County out-earns 6 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major County | - | $71,266 | $696/mo | 82% |
| Blaine County, OK | 31 mi | $61,642 | $852/mo | 73% |
| Alfalfa County, OK | 31 mi | $64,615 | $705/mo | 78% |
| Woods County, OK | 34 mi | $53,275 | $850/mo | 65% |
| Dewey County, OK | 35 mi | $62,569 | $912/mo | 76% |
| Woodward County, OK | 41 mi | $61,417 | $838/mo | 73% |
| Garfield County, OK | 42 mi | $66,182 | $919/mo | 66% |
Who lives in Major County, in numbers
College graduates make up 20% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 8.2%, against 12.9% for Oklahoma.
| People and households | Major County | Oklahoma | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 37.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.1% | 28.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.7% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.2% | 12.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.8% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.1% | 9.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 15.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.6% | 5.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Major County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.1% |
| 60+ min | 9.1% |
Before borrowing in Major County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Major County borrowers.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Debt-to-income at Major County's medians
How much room does a median Major County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $5,939 gross per month ($71,266 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $696, takes 12% of that
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,442 a month
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,858 a month
If your rent is above $696, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Oklahoma rules that apply in Major County
Consumer lenders serving Major 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. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Oklahoma guide.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Major County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Major County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Major County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Oklahoma guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Major County household make?
About $71,266 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 10% above the Oklahoma median.
How much is rent in Major County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $696 a month; 42% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Major County?
By population: Fairview, Ringwood, Cleo Springs, Ames, Isabella. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Are Major 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 Major County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Oklahoma it is the Oklahoma State Banking Department.