Kay County, OK

County

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2024 Population

43,625

US Senator

James Lankford

Republican Party

US Senator

Markwayne Mullin

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

38.5

0.522% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

16%

2.95% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$58,423

3.09% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$124,700

6.76% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

18,793

0.508% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Kay County, OK reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

98.3% of the residents in Kay County, OK are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Kay County, OK are Northern Oklahoma College (715 degrees awarded in 2023), Pioneer Technology Center (175 degrees), and Ponca City Beauty College (23 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Kay County, OK was $124,700, and the homeownership rate was 69.2%.

Most people in Kay County, OK drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 18.9 minutes. The average car ownership in Kay County, OK was 2 cars per household.

Kay County, OK borders Cowley County, KS, Sumner County, KS, Garfield County, OK, Grant County, OK, Noble County, OK, and Osage County, OK.

United States Oklahoma Ponca City, OK

Population & Diversity

Kay County, OK is home to a population of 43.6k people, from which 98.3% are citizens. As of 2024, 2.76% of Kay County, OK residents were born outside of the country (1.21k people).

In 2024, there were 7.69 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (31.1k people) in Kay County, OK than any other race or ethnicity. There were 4.04k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) and 3k American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

98.3%

2024 Citizenship

98.5%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 98.3% of Kay County, OK residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Kay County, OK was 98.5%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Kay County, OK compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Kay County, OK

White (Non-Hispanic)
31.1k ± 205
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
4.04k ± 364
American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic)
3k ± 314

9.01%

Hispanic Population

3.93k people

9.01% of the people in Kay County, OK are hispanic (3.93k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Kay County, OK as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Oklahoma.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
105,376 ± 7,864 people
Vietnam
13,032 ± 2,798 people
Guatemala
11,790 ± 2,662 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Oklahoma was Mexico, the natal country of 105,376 Oklahoma residents, followed by Vietnam with 13,032 and Guatemala with 11,790.

Foreign-Born Population

2.76%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

1.21k people

2.82%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

1.23k people

As of 2024, 2.76% of Kay County, OK residents (1.21k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Kay County, OK was 2.82%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Kay County, OK compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
970 ± 147
Gulf War (2001-)
732 ± 173
Gulf War (1990s)
345 ± 89

Kay County, OK has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.33 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Kay County, OK.

Economy

The economy of Kay County, OK employs 18.8k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Kay County, OK were Manufacturing (2,643 people), Retail Trade (2,442 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (2,099 people), and the highest paying industries were Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($61,738), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($60,304), and Manufacturing ($48,583).

Employment

Occupations

18.8k

2024 Value

± 804

−0.508%

1 Year decline

± 5.99%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Kay County, OK declined at a rate of −0.508%, from 18.9k employees to 18.8k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Kay County, OK, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,949 people), Production Occupations (1,801 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (1,673 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Kay County, OK.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Oklahoma.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Oklahoma (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

18.8k

2024 Value

± 804

−0.508%

1 Year decline

± 5.99%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Kay County, OK declined at a rate of −0.508%, from 18.9k employees to 18.8k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Kay County, OK, are Manufacturing (2,643 people), Retail Trade (2,442 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (2,099 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Kay County, OK, though some of these residents may live in Kay County, OK and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$44,557

Median earning men ± $2,453

$32,798

Median earning women ± $1,870

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Information ($65,000), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($64,167), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($58,750).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Wholesale Trade ($50,174), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($47,604), and Public Administration ($40,571).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Oklahoma.

Y-Axis

2.57%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 1.72M people employed in Oklahoma. This represents a 2.57% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Oklahoma.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

90
Other Services (except Public Administration)
75
Retail Trade
57
Finance and Insurance

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$192k
Manufacturing
$86.1k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$61.8k
Retail Trade

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Oklahoma went to Donald J. Trump with 66.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (31.9%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.02%).

James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin are the senators currently representing the state of Oklahoma. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Oklahoma is currently represented by 5 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Kay County, OK. Showing the available data for Oklahoma.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (66.2%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (31.9%)
Democratic Party
Robert Kennedy (1.02%)
Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Oklahoma went to Donald J. Trump with 66.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (31.9%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.02%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Oklahoma for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Oklahoma

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Oklahoma.

James Lankford

Senator from Oklahoma

Assumed office on January 3, 2015
Took office following the resignation of Tom Coburn.

Markwayne Mullin

Senator from Oklahoma

Assumed office on January 3, 2023
Took office following the resignation of Jim Inhofe.

James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin are the senators currently representing Oklahoma.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Oklahoma over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Education

In 2023, universities in Kay County, OK awarded 913 degrees. The student population of Kay County, OK in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 1,360 male students and 2,181 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Kay County, OK are White (585 and 65%), American Indian or Alaska Native (147 and 16.3%), Hispanic or Latino (85 and 9.44%), and Black or African American (43 and 4.78%).

The largest universities in Kay County, OK by number of degrees awarded are Northern Oklahoma College (715 and 78.3%), Pioneer Technology Center (175 and 19.2%), and Ponca City Beauty College (23 and 2.52%).

The most popular majors in Kay County, OK are General Studies (133 and 14.6%), General Management Information Systems (100 and 11%), and General Social Sciences (83 and 9.09%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2023 there were 3,541 students enrolled in Kay County, OK, 38.4% men and 61.6% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 2,137 records, of which 61.6% were women and 38.4% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Studies
133 degrees awarded
General Management Information Systems
100 degrees awarded
General Social Sciences
83 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Kay County, OK was General Studies with 133 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Kay County, OK according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Northern Oklahoma College
715 degrees awarded
Pioneer Technology Center
175 degrees awarded
Ponca City Beauty College
23 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Northern Oklahoma College with 715 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2023, 350 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Kay County, OK, which is 0.622 times less than the 563 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 585 degrees mean that there were 3.98 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, American Indian or Alaska Native, with 147 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Public, 2-year ($3,681) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($1,380) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($1,200) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Kay County, OK was $124,700 in 2024, which is 0.375 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $116,800 to $124,700, a 6.76% increase. The homeownership rate in Kay County, OK is 69.2%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Kay County, OK have an average commute time of 18.9 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Kay County, OK is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 11.8% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Kay County, OK. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 1.51%.

Housing

Property

$124,700

Median Property Value 2024

±$6,816

$11,609

Median Property Taxes

±$548

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Kay County, OK the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Kay County, OK compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

69.2%

Homeownership

2024

69%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 69.2% of the housing units in Kay County, OK were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 67.7%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Kay County, OK compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$58,423

Median Household Income

± $3,014

16.8k

Number of Households

± 738

In 2024, the median household income of the 16.8k households in Kay County, OK grew to $58,423 from the previous year's value of $56,673.

The following chart displays the households in Kay County, OK distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Kay County, OK is from Oklahoma.

0.452

2023 Wage GINI in Oklahoma

0.456

2022 Wage GINI in Oklahoma

In 2023, the income inequality in Oklahoma was 0.452 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.809% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Oklahoma was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Oklahoma in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Oklahoma across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (80.8%)
Carpooled (12.5%)
Worked At Home (3.7%)

In 2024, 80.8% of workers in Kay County, OK drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (12.5%) and those who worked at home (3.7%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

18.9 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Kay County, OK have a shorter commute time (18.9 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.25% of the workforce in Kay County, OK have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Kay County, OK compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Kay County, OK distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Kay County, OK have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 11.8% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Kay County, OK. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 1.51%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

16% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Kay County, OK (6.77k out of 42.3k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Males 6 - 11, followed by Females 25 - 34 and then Females 55 - 64.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Kay County, OK is White, followed by Two Or More and Native American.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 27% of the children was living in poverty in Kay County, OK. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.6%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 567 in Kay County, OK. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator grew 154 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

88.7% of the population of Kay County, OK has health coverage, with 36.2% on employee plans, 21.1% on Medicaid, 16.3% on Medicare, 13.5% on non-group plans, and 1.68% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Kay County, OK see 2,572 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (2,572 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1456 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 390 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 50% were men and 50% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

2,572 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Kay County, OK

Primary care physicians in Kay County, OK see an average of 2,572 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (2,572 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Kay County, OK in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 26.8% under 18 years, 19.2% between 18 and 34 years, 34.9% between 35 and 64 years, and 19.1% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 50% were men and 50% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

11.3%

Uninsured

36.2%

Employer Coverage

21.1%

Medicaid

16.3%

Medicare

13.5%

Non-Group

1.68%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Kay County, OK declined by 11.3% from 12.7% to 11.3%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Kay County, OK changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 66.8 in Kay County, OK.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Kay County, OK.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 44% in Kay County, OK.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Kay County, OK.