United States › Oklahoma › Poteau CITY
Poteau Oklahoma · 9,171 residents (2025 est.) · 26.6 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
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
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
Section 01
Population & growth from 7,939 in 2000
9,171 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
337 / sq mi
+10%since 2009
from 307 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 34.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
7K 8K 8K 9K 9K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Poteau Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $50,511
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,178 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $15,175 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 22.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.424 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 6.9%
Public administration 3.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.5%
Education & health services 1%
Transportation & warehousing 0.7%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$157,400
+58%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $54,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$853
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $385 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 66.4% in 2000
37.7% rent
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.56 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 36.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 1.9 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 78.3%(6,220)
Hispanic / Latino 5.8%(462)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 65.3%(5,847)
Hispanic / Latino 15.2%(1,359)
from 43 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data from 16.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 70.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 14.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 82.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 6.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 57.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 68.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 29.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 19.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 23.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 68.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 87.3% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 79.0% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 88.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 10.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 31.3%(1,063)
Women 15+
Never married 30.2%(1,067)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 23.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 37.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 10.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 17.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 27.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 48.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 41.3% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
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)
Gulf War (1990s) 28.1%(115)
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.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Poteau, Oklahoma? Poteau, Oklahoma has about 8,959 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Poteau, Oklahoma? The typical household in Poteau, Oklahoma earns about $50,511 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Poteau, Oklahoma expensive? In Poteau, Oklahoma, the median home is worth about $157,400, and the typical rent is about $853 a month.
How educated are people in Poteau, Oklahoma? About 16.4% of adults age 25 and over in Poteau, Oklahoma hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Poteau, Oklahoma? About 19.8% of people in Poteau, Oklahoma live below the federal poverty line.
Has Poteau, Oklahoma grown since 1990? Yes, Poteau, Oklahoma has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,749 residents, a change of about 24 percent over that period.
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