Ponca City, OK

Census Place

Add Comparison

2024 Population

24,326

US Senator

James Lankford

Republican Party

US Senator

Alan Armstrong

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

37.1

0.269% 1-year decrease

2024 Poverty Rate

17.9%

7.49% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$55,941

1.21% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$135,800

6.51% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

10,399

1.91% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Ponca City, 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.

97.8% of the residents in Ponca City, OK are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Ponca City, OK are Pioneer Technology Center (201 degrees awarded in 2024) and Ponca City Beauty College (36 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Ponca City, OK was $135,800, and the homeownership rate was 62.5%.

Most people in Ponca City, OK drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 15.7 minutes. The average car ownership in Ponca City, OK was 2 cars per household.

United States Oklahoma Kay County, OK Ponca City, OK North Central Oklahoma Counties--Enid, Ponca City, Blackwell & Perry Cities PUMA, OK Northeast Oklahoma Counties--Bartlesville, Skiatook, Pawhuska & Pawnee Cities PUMA, OK

Population & Diversity

Ponca City, OK is home to a population of 24.3k people, from which 97.8% are citizens. As of 2024, 3.15% of Ponca City, OK residents were born outside of the country (766 people).

In 2024, there were 7.15 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (16.5k people) in Ponca City, OK than any other race or ethnicity. There were 2.31k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) and 1.6k American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.8%

2024 Citizenship

98.2%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 97.8% of Ponca City, OK residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Ponca City, OK was 98.2%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Ponca City, OK

White (Non-Hispanic)
16.5k ± 394
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
2.31k ± 370
American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic)
1.6k ± 311

10.4%

Hispanic Population

2.53k people

10.4% of the people in Ponca City, OK are hispanic (2.53k people).

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

Global Diversity

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

Most Common Origin

Mexico
105,864 ± 7,883 people
Vietnam
13,987 ± 2,899 people
Guatemala
12,051 ± 2,691 people

In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Oklahoma was Mexico, the natal country of 105,864 Oklahoma residents, followed by Vietnam with 13,987 and Guatemala with 12,051.

Foreign-Born Population

3.15%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

766 people

3.08%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

752 people

As of 2024, 3.15% of Ponca City, OK residents (766 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 Ponca City, OK was 3.08%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
518 ± 122
Gulf War (2001-)
473 ± 149
Gulf War (1990s)
185 ± 80

Ponca City, OK has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.1 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Ponca City, OK.

Health

88.1% of the population of Ponca City, OK has health coverage, with 35.1% on employee plans, 24% on Medicaid, 14.1% on Medicare, 13.3% on non-group plans, and 1.65% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Oklahoma see 1,694 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,694 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1561 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 231 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.5% were men and 50.5% were women.

Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 27.6% under 18 years, 19.9% between 18 and 34 years, 35.1% between 35 and 64 years, and 17.4% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.5% were men and 50.5% were women.

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

Uninsured People

11.9%

Uninsured

35.1%

Employer Coverage

24%

Medicaid

14.1%

Medicare

13.3%

Non-Group

1.65%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Ponca City, OK declined by 13.9% from 13.8% to 11.9%.

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

Economy

The economy of Ponca City, OK employs 10.4k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Ponca City, OK were Retail Trade (1,513 people), Manufacturing (1,331 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (1,240 people), and the highest paying industries were Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($59,219), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($58,021), and Manufacturing ($49,491).

Employment

Occupations

10.4k

2024 Value

± 662

−1.91%

1 Year decline

± 9.12%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Ponca City, OK declined at a rate of −1.91%, from 10.6k employees to 10.4k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Ponca City, OK, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,035 people), Sales & Related Occupations (1,012 people), and Production Occupations (896 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Ponca City, 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

10.4k

2024 Value

± 662

−1.91%

1 Year decline

± 9.12%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Ponca City, OK declined at a rate of −1.91%, from 10.6k employees to 10.4k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Ponca City, OK, are Retail Trade (1,513 people), Manufacturing (1,331 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (1,240 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Ponca City, OK, though some of these residents may live in Ponca City, OK and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$43,035

Median earning men ± $2,699

$32,961

Median earning women ± $3,372

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($60,938), Manufacturing ($58,556), and Public Administration ($57,065).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Wholesale Trade ($50,843), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($47,813), and Manufacturing ($42,148).

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.

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 Alan Armstrong 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 Ponca City, 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.

Alan Armstrong

Senator from Oklahoma

Assumed office on March 24, 2026
Took office following the resignation of Markwayne Mullin as Secretary of Homeland Security.{{cite web |last1=Hoberock |first1=Barbara |title=Mullin resigns from US Senate |url=https://oklahomavoice.com/2026/03/23/mullin-resigns-from-us-senate-oklahoma-governor-to-appoint-his-replacement/ |website=Oklahoma Voice |access-date=24 March 2026}}.

James Lankford and Alan Armstrong 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 2024, universities in Ponca City, OK awarded 237 degrees. The student population of Ponca City, OK in 2024 is skewed towards women, with 216 male students and 242 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Ponca City, OK are White (143 and 60.3%), Hispanic or Latino (36 and 15.2%), American Indian or Alaska Native (29 and 12.2%), and Two or More Races (24 and 10.1%).

The largest universities in Ponca City, OK by number of degrees awarded are Pioneer Technology Center (201 and 84.8%) and Ponca City Beauty College (36 and 15.2%).

The most popular majors in Ponca City, OK are Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training (31 and 13.1%), General Cosmetology (28 and 11.8%), and Nursing Assistant & Patient Care Assistant (24 and 10.1%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2024 there were 458 students enrolled in Ponca City, OK, 47.2% men and 52.8% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 291 records, of which 52.2% were women and 47.8% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training
31 degrees awarded
General Cosmetology
28 degrees awarded
Welding Technology
13 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common concentation for 1 to 2 Year Postsecondary Certificate recipients in Ponca City, OK was Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training with 31 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a 1 to 2 Year Postsecondary Certificate from schools in Ponca City, OK according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Pioneer Technology Center
201 degrees awarded
Ponca City Beauty College
36 degrees awarded

In 2024, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Pioneer Technology Center with 201 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2024, 94 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Ponca City, OK, which is 0.657 times less than the 143 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2024, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 143 degrees mean that there were 3.97 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 36 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.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Ponca City, OK was $135,800 in 2024, which is 0.408 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $127,500 to $135,800, a 6.51% increase. The homeownership rate in Ponca City, OK is 62.5%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Ponca City, OK have an average commute time of 15.7 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Ponca City, OK is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$135,800

Median Property Value 2024

±$8,223

$5,856

Median Property Taxes

±$451

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 Ponca City, OK the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

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

Rent vs Own

62.5%

Homeownership

2024

69.9%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 62.5% of the housing units in Ponca City, OK were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 62.3%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Ponca City, 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.

$55,941

Median Household Income

± $4,137

9.37k

Number of Households

± 594

In 2024, the median household income of the 9.37k households in Ponca City, OK grew to $55,941 from the previous year's value of $55,270.

The following chart displays the households in Ponca City, 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 Ponca City, OK is from Oklahoma.

0.45

2024 Wage GINI in Oklahoma

0.452

2023 Wage GINI in Oklahoma

In 2024, the income inequality in Oklahoma was 0.45 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.454% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Oklahoma was lower than than the national average of 0.474. 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 (78.5%)
Carpooled (14.7%)
Worked At Home (3.39%)

In 2024, 78.5% of workers in Ponca City, OK drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (14.7%) and those who worked at home (3.39%).

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

15.7 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Ponca City, OK have a shorter commute time (15.7 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 1.56% of the workforce in Ponca City, OK have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

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

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

17.9% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Ponca City, OK (4.28k out of 23.9k 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 Males 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Ponca City, OK is White, followed by Two Or More and Hispanic.

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.