With 8,959 people, Poteau is a city in Oklahoma. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $157,400. Households take in $50,511 at the median, 39% less than the US figure. Renters pay $853 a month at the median. The poverty rate is 19.8%, above the 12.5% national rate.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $50,511, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 58%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Poteau
What changed most since 1990
Poverty rate26.1% → 19.8%(−6.3 pts)US over the same years: −0.8 pts
Homes owned by their occupants66.6% → 62.3%(−4.3 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
Its weight in Le Flore County
Poteau's population equals 18% of Le Flore County's. Its number of foreign-born residents equals 41% of the county's.
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)19.6%(80)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)28.1%(115)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era44%(180)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War6.8%(28)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1%(4)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 409 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Poteau, decade by decade
Poteau population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
7,210
$45,104
$90,723
15.4%
28.3
2000
7,939
$47,687
$99,645
16.4%
45.6
2010
8,520
$55,955
$105,160
15.9%
58.4
2020
8,807
$48,438
$133,930
16.4%
72.7
2024
8,959
$50,511
$157,400
16.4%
65.2
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
