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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Tahlequah Micro

Tahlequah, OK · 1 counties · 49,196 residents (2025 est.) · 749.127 sq mi
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The short version

Tahlequah has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,218. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $168,500.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 48%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
47,942
+13%since 2000
from 42,521 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
64 / sq mi
+13%since 2000
from 57 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.3
+15%since 2000
from 32.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:49,196 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
33K37K41K46K50K1990201020202024Tahlequah
202448K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,218
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,536 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,253
+118%since 2000
from $13,436 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
35.7%
+21.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.2%
−4.6 ptssince 2000
from 22.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.455
+1%since 2010
from 0.452 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information9.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade5.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Construction2.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing1.7%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$168,500
+48%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$831
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $389 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
65.7%
−1.0 ptssince 2000
from 66.8% in 2000
34.3% rent
Vacancy rate
16.4%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 22.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.0%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 20.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.8%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 34.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+34%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
63
RELATED:See current rent listings in Tahlequah on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic55.2%(23,483)
Black1.2%(504)
Hispanic / Latino4.1%(1,760)
Asian0.3%(115)
Other0%
Diversity Score21.3%(9,061)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic44.9%(21,513)
Black1.3%(607)
Hispanic / Latino8%(3,829)
Asian0.9%(427)
Other45%(21,566)
Diversity Score73.7%(35,338)
Segregation Score10.5%(5,023)
Diversity Score
74
+246%since 2000
from 21 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
10
+46%since 2020
from 7 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.2%
+7.1 ptssince 2000
from 22.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.2%
+12.5 ptssince 2000
from 76.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.2%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 8.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.8 min
+31%since 2000
from 18.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
73.0%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 78.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.8%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.6%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.1%
−3.4 ptssince 2011
from 8.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.8%
+3.5 ptssince 2011
from 53.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
19.1%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 23.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.1%
−23.1 ptssince 2009
from 61.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
51.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
3.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.5%
−41.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.1%
+2.8 ptssince 2012
from 18.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
18.2%
−56.7 ptssince 2013
from 74.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
82.8%
+23.9 ptssince 2017
from 58.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 92.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 3.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

TahlequahCENTRAL17,508
What's inside

1 component county

Cherokee CountyCENTRAL49,196
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Tahlequah

Lawrenceburg
Pop 46,914
Harrison
Pop 45,654
Alice
Pop 45,383
Boone
Pop 54,786
Places similar to Tahlequah
Head to head

Compare Tahlequah side by side

TAHLEQUAH VS
Lawrenceburg
Income$54,706+3%
Home value$194,400+15%
Population46,914−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TAHLEQUAH VS
Harrison
Income$54,175+2%
Home value$185,819+10%
Population45,654−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TAHLEQUAH VS
Alice
Income$51,270−4%
Home value$117,141−30%
Population45,383−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TAHLEQUAH VS
Boone
Income$51,693−3%
Home value$358,900+113%
Population54,786+11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Tahlequah, OK?

Tahlequah, OK has about 47,942 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Tahlequah, OK?

The typical household in Tahlequah, OK earns about $53,218 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Tahlequah, OK expensive?

In Tahlequah, OK, the median home is worth about $168,500, and the typical rent is about $831 a month.

How educated are people in Tahlequah, OK?

About 29.2% of adults age 25 and over in Tahlequah, OK hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Tahlequah, OK?

About 18.2% of people in Tahlequah, OK live below the federal poverty line.

Has Tahlequah, OK grown since 1990?

Yes, Tahlequah, OK has grown since 1990. The population has added about 13,893 residents, a change of about 41 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 →