Tahlequah, OK

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

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2024 Population

47,942

US Senator

James Lankford

Republican Party

US Senator

Alan Armstrong

Republican Party

2024 Poverty Rate

18.2%

5.83% 1-year decrease

2024 Median Household Income

$53,218

0.838% 1-year decline

2024 Median Property Value

$168,500

5.12% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

20,856

0.11% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Tahlequah, 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 Tahlequah, OK are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Tahlequah, OK are Northeastern State University (1,723 degrees awarded in 2024).

In 2024, the median property value in Tahlequah, OK was $168,500, and the homeownership rate was 65.7%.

Most people in Tahlequah, OK drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 23.8 minutes. The average car ownership in Tahlequah, OK was 2 cars per household.

Tahlequah, OK borders Fort Smith, AR-OK, Muskogee, OK, and Tulsa, OK.

United States Oklahoma

Population & Diversity

Tahlequah, OK is home to a population of 47.9k people, from which 97.8% are citizens. As of 2024, 3.51% of Tahlequah, OK residents were born outside of the country (1.68k people).

In 2024, there were 1.45 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (21.5k people) in Tahlequah, OK than any other race or ethnicity. There were 14.9k American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic) and 6.12k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (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 Tahlequah, OK residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Tahlequah, OK was 98.2%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Tahlequah, OK

White (Non-Hispanic)
21.5k ± 240
American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic)
14.9k ± 596
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
6.12k ± 620

7.99%

Hispanic Population

3.83k people

7.99% of the people in Tahlequah, OK are hispanic (3.83k people).

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

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the MSA 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

3.51%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

1.68k people

3.2%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

1.53k people

As of 2024, 3.51% of Tahlequah, OK residents (1.68k 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 Tahlequah, OK was 3.2%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
866 ± 183
Gulf War (2001-)
537 ± 109
Gulf War (1990s)
388 ± 134

Tahlequah, OK has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.61 times greater than any other conflict.

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

Health

81.8% of the population of Tahlequah, OK has health coverage, with 35.1% on employee plans, 19.9% on Medicaid, 13% on Medicare, 11.9% on non-group plans, and 1.89% 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, 48.9% were men and 51.1% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

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

1,694 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Oklahoma

Primary care physicians in Oklahoma see an average of 1,694 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,694 patients).

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

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 23.3% under 18 years, 24.6% between 18 and 34 years, 34.7% between 35 and 64 years, and 17.4% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.9% were men and 51.1% were women.

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

Uninsured People

18.2%

Uninsured

35.1%

Employer Coverage

19.9%

Medicaid

13%

Medicare

11.9%

Non-Group

1.89%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Tahlequah, OK declined by 4.51% from 19.1% to 18.2%.

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

Economy

The economy of Tahlequah, OK employs 20.9k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Tahlequah, OK were Health Care & Social Assistance (3,841 people), Educational Services (2,575 people), and Retail Trade (2,000 people), and the highest paying industries were Management of Companies & Enterprises ($117,422), Utilities ($86,875), and Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($69,300).

Employment

Occupations

20.9k

2024 Value

± 915

0.11%

1 Year growth

± 6.2%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Tahlequah, OK grew at a rate of 0.11%, from 20.8k employees to 20.9k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Tahlequah, OK, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (2,344 people), Management Occupations (1,967 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (1,899 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Tahlequah, 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

20.9k

2024 Value

± 915

0.11%

1 Year growth

± 6.2%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Tahlequah, OK grew at a rate of 0.11%, from 20.8k employees to 20.9k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Tahlequah, OK, are Health Care & Social Assistance (3,841 people), Educational Services (2,575 people), and Retail Trade (2,000 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Tahlequah, OK, though some of these residents may live in Tahlequah, OK and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$41,461

Median earning men ± $2,526

$33,628

Median earning women ± $1,959

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($61,125), Wholesale Trade ($55,179), and Construction ($49,479).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Public Administration ($44,984), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($43,714), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($39,655).

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

56
Retail Trade
53
Health Care and Social Assistance
51
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

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

$149k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$45.7k
Retail Trade
$22.3k
Accommodation and Food Services

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 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 Tahlequah, 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 Tahlequah, OK awarded 1,723 degrees. The student population of Tahlequah, OK in 2024 is skewed towards women, with 2,362 male students and 4,389 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Tahlequah, OK are White (901 and 53.1%), American Indian or Alaska Native (341 and 20.1%), Two or More Races (199 and 11.7%), and Hispanic or Latino (114 and 6.72%).

The largest universities in Tahlequah, OK by number of degrees awarded are Northeastern State University (1,723 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Tahlequah, OK are General Business Administration & Management (165 and 9.58%), Other Research & Experimental Psychology (157 and 9.11%), and General Studies (86 and 4.99%).

The median tuition cost for a public four year colleges is $6,920 for in-state students and $16,400 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2024 in Tahlequah, OK, the percentage of applicants admitted was 99.6%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 39%. The number of students enrolled in 2024 was 6,751 (35% men and 65% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2024 there were 6,751 students enrolled in Tahlequah, OK, 35% men and 65% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 2,980 records, of which 66.1% were women and 33.9% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Other Research & Experimental Psychology
157 degrees awarded
General Studies
86 degrees awarded
Elementary Education & Teaching
64 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Tahlequah, OK was Other Research & Experimental Psychology with 157 degrees awarded.

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

Universities

Gender

Race

Northeastern State University

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

1,723 degrees awarded

In 2024, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Northeastern State University with 1,723 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2024, 518 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Tahlequah, OK, which is 0.43 times less than the 1,205 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 901 degrees mean that there were 2.64 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, American Indian or Alaska Native, with 341 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

Universities

Public, 4-year or above ($6,920) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2024.

Public, 4-year or above ($890) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2024.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,000) 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 Tahlequah, OK was $168,500 in 2024, which is 0.506 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $160,300 to $168,500, a 5.12% increase. The homeownership rate in Tahlequah, OK is 65.7%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Tahlequah, OK have an average commute time of 23.8 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Tahlequah, OK is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$168,500

Median Property Value 2024

±$6,311

$12,291

Median Property Taxes

±$614

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

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

Rent vs Own

65.7%

Homeownership

2024

67.9%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 65.7% of the housing units in Tahlequah, OK were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 65.8%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Tahlequah, 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.

$53,218

Median Household Income

± $2,412

18.7k

Number of Households

± 858

In 2024, the median household income of the 18.7k households in Tahlequah, OK declined from $53,218 from the previous year's value of $53,668.

The following chart displays the households in Tahlequah, 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 Tahlequah, 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 (73%)
Carpooled (13.1%)
Worked At Home (7.83%)

In 2024, 73% of workers in Tahlequah, OK drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (13.1%) and those who worked at home (7.83%).

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

23.8 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Tahlequah, OK have a shorter commute time (23.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.86% of the workforce in Tahlequah, OK have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

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

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

18.2% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Tahlequah, OK (8.44k out of 46.3k 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 Females 18 - 24, followed by Males 18 - 24 and then Females 65 - 74.

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

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.