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MICROPOLITAN AREA

McAlester Micro

McAlester, OK · 1 counties · 43,320 residents (2025 est.) · 1,305.512 sq mi
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The short version

McAlester has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $55,310. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $156,900.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 68%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
43,561
−1%since 2000
from 43,953 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
33 / sq mi
−1%since 2000
from 34 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.6
+3%since 2000
from 39.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:43,320 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
40K42K43K45K46K1990201020202024McAlester
202444K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$55,310
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,679 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,974
+93%since 2000
from $15,494 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
35.9%
+16.9 ptssince 2009
from 19.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 17.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.460
+4%since 2010
from 0.442 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade6.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Professional, scientific, technical4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Construction2.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration2.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing2.2%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$156,900
+68%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $51,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$860
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $386 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
71.4%
−4.6 ptssince 2000
from 76.0% in 2000
28.6% rent
Vacancy rate
19.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 18.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.3%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.2%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 38.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.8
+58%since 2000
from 1.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
43
RELATED:See current rent listings in McAlester on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic76.3%(33,528)
Black4%(1,753)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(939)
Asian0.3%(113)
Other0%
Diversity Score18.2%(7,991)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic67.6%(29,452)
Black2.5%(1,070)
Hispanic / Latino5.7%(2,495)
Asian0.5%(213)
Other23.7%(10,331)
Diversity Score60.3%(26,285)
Segregation Score16.3%(7,102)
Diversity Score
60
+232%since 2000
from 18 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
16
+3%since 2020
from 16 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.2%
+7.3 ptssince 2000
from 12.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.7%
+11.5 ptssince 2000
from 76.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.0%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 4.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.3 min
+52%since 2000
from 14.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 83.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.0%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.9%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.1%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2011
from 5.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
53.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2011
from 51.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.0%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.5%
−20.6 ptssince 2009
from 57.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Female
49.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Foreign born
1.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
10.1%
−40.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
22.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2012
from 22.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
14.8%
−65.7 ptssince 2013
from 80.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.5%
+20.4 ptssince 2017
from 67.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 95.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 2.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

McAlesterCENTRAL18,044
What's inside

1 component county

Pittsburg CountyCENTRAL43,320
Drill deeper

Metros similar to McAlester

McMinnville
Pop 43,717
Milledgeville
Pop 44,029
Harrison
Pop 45,654
Madisonville
Pop 45,127
Places similar to McAlester
Head to head

Compare McAlester side by side

MCALESTER VS
McMinnville
Income$55,487same
Home value$192,900+23%
Population43,717+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MCALESTER VS
Milledgeville
Income$54,403−2%
Home value$181,900+16%
Population44,029+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MCALESTER VS
Harrison
Income$54,175−2%
Home value$185,819+18%
Population45,654+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MCALESTER VS
Madisonville
Income$56,815+3%
Home value$142,800−9%
Population45,127+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in McAlester, OK?

McAlester, OK has about 43,561 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in McAlester, OK?

The typical household in McAlester, OK earns about $55,310 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is McAlester, OK expensive?

In McAlester, OK, the median home is worth about $156,900, and the typical rent is about $860 a month.

How educated are people in McAlester, OK?

About 20.2% of adults age 25 and over in McAlester, OK hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in McAlester, OK?

About 17.7% of people in McAlester, OK live below the federal poverty line.

Has McAlester, OK grown since 1990?

Yes, McAlester, OK has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,980 residents, a change of about 7 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →