1st Advantage MortgageThe median Oklahoma County household earns $66,679, and 16% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Oklahoma County
- What Oklahoma County households earn
- Renting and owning in Oklahoma County
- The Oklahoma County job picture
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Places inside Oklahoma County
- Room for a loan payment in Oklahoma County
- People and households in Oklahoma County
- Before borrowing in Oklahoma County
- Checklist for Oklahoma County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Oklahoma County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Oklahoma County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Oklahoma County's population at 806,199, the largest in Oklahoma. It covers 709 square miles of land, or about 1,137 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Oklahoma City, OK metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 20 places in the county (20 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Oklahoma City, with about 697,125 residents, or 86% of the county.
What Oklahoma County households earn
At $66,679, the typical Oklahoma County household income is 2% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Oklahoma County | vs Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.4% | -0.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.0% | -0.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.4% | -0.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.2% | +2.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 32% of Oklahoma County households make $100,000 or more, and 25% make less than $35,000. Census counts 16.0% of Oklahoma County residents in poverty, against 15.3% across Oklahoma. A household earning below the $66,679 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Oklahoma County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,116 in Oklahoma County versus $1,014 statewide. 49% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 26% spend half or more. With a median value of $222,900, a typical Oklahoma County house costs 3.3 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 58% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1978.
| Measure | Oklahoma County | Oklahoma | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,116/mo | $1,014/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $222,900 | $199,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 58% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.7% | 8.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 12% | n/a |
The Oklahoma County job picture
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Oklahoma County residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. Professional and administrative services stands out: 12% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.8% in Oklahoma County. Long commutes are the exception here: 7% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 6.7% of the total (5.6% statewide).
| Sector | Oklahoma County | Compared with Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | -1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.0% | +2.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.5% | +0.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.8% | +1.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Oklahoma County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Cleveland County at 25 miles out to McClain County at 37. Canadian County leads the group on income ($87,751), Pottawatomie County trails ($61,398), and Oklahoma County out-earns 2 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma County | - | $66,679 | $1,116/mo | 58% |
| Cleveland County, OK | 25 mi | $77,068 | $1,167/mo | 64% |
| Logan County, OK | 25 mi | $83,899 | $891/mo | 85% |
| Lincoln County, OK | 31 mi | $62,216 | $794/mo | 80% |
| Canadian County, OK | 32 mi | $87,751 | $1,289/mo | 75% |
| Pottawatomie County, OK | 35 mi | $61,398 | $894/mo | 70% |
| McClain County, OK | 37 mi | $84,552 | $954/mo | 79% |
Places inside Oklahoma County
The table lists the 14 largest of 20 Census places in Oklahoma County, by population. Together all 20 hold about 950,315 people, so roughly 0% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $46,925 in Del City to $207,567 in Nichols Hills. Median rent ranges from $904 in Valley Brook to $2,130 in Nichols Hills. Names with links open a city guide. The other 18 places are covered here.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | city | 697,125 | $68,656 | $1,130 | 8 mi |
| Edmond | city | 96,825 | $103,183 | $1,344 | 8 mi |
| Midwest City | city | 58,297 | $57,520 | $1,091 | 7 mi |
| Del City | city | 21,494 | $46,925 | $1,054 | 8 mi |
| Bethany | city | 20,560 | $56,591 | $1,071 | 13 mi |
| Choctaw | city | 12,303 | $100,574 | $1,208 | 9 mi |
| Warr Acres | city | 10,466 | $53,273 | $919 | 12 mi |
| The Village | city | 9,447 | $77,108 | $1,403 | 8 mi |
| Harrah | city | 6,684 | $84,375 | $939 | 14 mi |
| Spencer | city | 3,928 | $59,861 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Nichols Hills | city | 3,843 | $207,567 | $2,130 | 8 mi |
| Jones | town | 3,053 | $77,371 | $1,104 | 7 mi |
| Nicoma Park | city | 2,566 | $62,447 | $1,012 | 6 mi |
| Luther | town | 1,627 | $51,827 | $1,375 | 15 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Oklahoma County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Oklahoma County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Oklahoma County: $5,557
- Median rent: $1,116, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- $829: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 45% cap, $2,500 total minus rent leaves $1,384
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Oklahoma County's.
People and households in Oklahoma County
College graduates make up 36% of the adult population. About 14% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Oklahoma County | Oklahoma statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.2 | 37.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 35.9% | 28.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.5% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.7% | 12.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.7% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.8% | 9.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.0% | 15.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 5.0% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 47.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.4% |
| 60+ min | 3.2% |
Before borrowing in Oklahoma County
Where the Oklahoma County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Medical bills. 14% of Oklahoma County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Rent squeeze. 49% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Checklist for Oklahoma County applicants
Quick steps for Oklahoma County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Licensing and complaints for Oklahoma County
Consumer lenders serving Oklahoma County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Oklahoma that is the Oklahoma State Banking Department. Oklahoma also has the Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit for consumer credit. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Oklahoma guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
Guides that cover parts of Oklahoma County:
Frequently asked questions
Is Oklahoma County a high-income county?
Its $66,679 median ranks 11th of 77 Oklahoma counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Oklahoma County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,116 against $1,014 statewide, and 49% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Oklahoma County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Oklahoma City, Edmond, Midwest City, Del City, Bethany and 15 more.
Are Oklahoma 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Oklahoma County residents?
The Oklahoma State Banking Department licenses consumer lenders in Oklahoma; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.