1st Advantage MortgageIn Nowata County, Oklahoma, the typical household earns $54,333 a year and the typical rent is $811. 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 Nowata County
- Paychecks and income spread in Nowata County
- Jobs and commutes in Nowata County
- Nowata County housing compared with Oklahoma
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Nowata County
- Regional comparison for Nowata County
- Budget math at the Nowata County median
- People and households in Nowata County
- Borrowing situations common in Nowata County
- Checklist for Nowata County applicants
- Oklahoma rules that apply in Nowata County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Nowata County
Nowata County is home to about 9,435 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 59th most populous of 77 county-level areas in Oklahoma. Land area is 566 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 17 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Nowata County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 7 Census places inside Nowata County, Nowata leads by population with about 3,542; 6 of the 7 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Nowata County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Paychecks and income spread in Nowata County
At $54,333, the typical Nowata County household income is 17% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Income band | Share in Nowata County | Difference from Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.5% | +4.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.0% | +2.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.9% | -5.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.6% | -1.7 pts |
Some 31% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 23% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 17.2% of Nowata County residents in poverty, against 15.3% across Oklahoma. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.466 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $54,333 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Nowata County
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 17%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 17% locally and 9% for Oklahoma. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.5% in Nowata County. 24% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home.
| Sector | Nowata County | Compared with Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.3% | +2.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.8% | +7.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.5% | -2.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.1% | -0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -2.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.4% | +0.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Nowata County housing compared with Oklahoma
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $811 in Nowata County versus $1,014 statewide. By the Census definition, 40% of Nowata County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $137,800, or 2.5 years of median income. The ownership rate is 74%. The median home was built in 1977, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Nowata County | Oklahoma | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $811/mo | $1,014/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $137,800 | $199,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.3% | 8.2% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Nowata 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.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Nowata County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Nowata County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 4,967 people, so roughly 47% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Nowata County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nowata | city | 3,542 | $47,776 | $752 | 6 mi |
| South Coffeyville | town | 684 | $56,875 | $968 | 14 mi |
| Delaware | town | 301 | $40,000 | $640 | 2 mi |
| Lenapah | town | 276 | $58,750 | $750 | 4 mi |
| Wann | town | 87 | $56,250 | n/a | 14 mi |
| New Alluwe | town | 42 | $36,071 | $481 | 14 mi |
| Watova | CDP | 35 | $31,250 | n/a | 12 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Regional comparison for Nowata County
Distances run center to center, from Washington County at 17 miles out to Mayes County at 40. Income ranges from $51,922 in Craig County to $80,067 in Rogers County; 5 of these neighbors top Nowata County's median. Some neighbors are in Kansas. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Nowata County resident follows Oklahoma rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nowata County | - | $54,333 | $811/mo | 74% |
| Washington County, OK | 17 mi | $60,162 | $907/mo | 72% |
| Craig County, OK | 23 mi | $51,922 | $810/mo | 74% |
| Rogers County, OK | 28 mi | $80,067 | $1,047/mo | 78% |
| Montgomery County, KS | 29 mi | $55,697 | $761/mo | 73% |
| Labette County, KS | 33 mi | $56,325 | $746/mo | 74% |
| Mayes County, OK | 40 mi | $60,305 | $858/mo | 74% |
Budget math at the Nowata County median
How much room does a median Nowata County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $54,333 a year is $4,528 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $811, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- At 35%, room after rent is $774 a month
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,226 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
People and households in Nowata County
College graduates make up 17% of the adult population. 15.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Nowata County | Oklahoma | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 37.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.8% | 28.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.3% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.2% | 12.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.0% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 9.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.2% | 15.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 5.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Nowata County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.9% |
| 60+ min | 12.9% |
Borrowing situations common in Nowata County
A few patterns in the Nowata County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Uninsured care. 15% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Commuter costs. 24% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Mobile home upkeep. 16% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
Checklist for Nowata County applicants
Quick steps for Nowata County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Nowata County credit union about member loans.
Oklahoma rules that apply in Nowata County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Nowata County resident can confirm its license with 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.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Oklahoma guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Nowata County earn?
The median is $54,333; 23% earn $100,000 or more and 31% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Nowata County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $811 against $1,014 statewide, and 40% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Nowata County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 74% of Nowata County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Nowata County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Nowata, South Coffeyville, Delaware, Lenapah, Wann and 2 more.
Does living in Nowata County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Nowata County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.