Payne County, OK Local Data & Statistics

State: OK

Total population: 82,972 Household income: $49,809 Rent: $917

Overview

Total population

82,972

Rent

$917

Year built

1984

Household income

$49,809

Per capita income

$30,874

Poverty rate

22.6%

Unemployment rate

2.9%

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

52.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Oklahoma

Total population

82,972

Adults over 25

45,211

Total households

32,609

Household size

2.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$49,809

Per capita income

$30,874

Poverty rate

22.6%

Unemployment rate

2.9%

Rent over 30% of income

52.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$917

Year built

1984

Households that rent

49%

Households that own

51%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.1

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

75.4%

Black

3.7%

Asian

4.2%

Two or more races

11%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

6.6%

Not Hispanic or Latino

93.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

91.2%

Commute time to work

18 mins

Work from home

8.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

24.9%

High school graduate or GED

27.3%

Some college or associate degree

Bachelor’s degree or higher

39.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Payne County, OK with: Oklahoma United States

Payne County, OK

Total population82,972

Rent$917

Year built1984

Household income$49,809

Per capita income$30,874

Poverty rate22.6%

Unemployment rate2.9%

Oklahoma State

Total population4,028,634

Rent$1,014

Year built1980

Household income$65,039

Per capita income$35,624

Poverty rate15.3%

Unemployment rate3.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CountyPayne County, OK	StateOklahoma	CountryUnited States
Total population	82,972	4,028,634	334,922,499
Rent	$917	$1,014	$1,413
Year built	1984	1980	1980
Household income	$49,809	$65,039	$80,734
Per capita income	$30,874	$35,624	$44,673
Poverty rate	22.6%	15.3%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	2.9%	3.3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Payne County, OK, Oklahoma and United States →

Summary for Payne County, OK

Payne County is located in Oklahoma .

Rent & Income

In Payne County, the monthly rent is $917 and household income is $49,809. Rent is lower than both Oklahoma and the U.S., and household income is lower than both Oklahoma and the U.S. The poverty rate is 22.6%, which is higher than both Oklahoma and the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 49% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 52.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 39.7% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The unemployment rate is 2.9%, which is lower than both Oklahoma and the national rate.

Payne County, OK — Rent vs Household Income

Payne County, OK — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Payne County, OK (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $917 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Payne County, OK

Annual Household Income: $49,809

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Payne County, OK

Estimated Rate: 22.6%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Payne County, OK

In Payne County, OK, households that rent: 15,968 (49%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	15,968	49%
Owner-Occupied	16,641	51%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Payne County, OK

In Payne County, OK, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 8,403 (52.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	8,403	52.6%
Other renter households	7,565	47.4%
Total renter households	15,968	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Payne County, OK

Less than High School: 11,274 people (24.9%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 12,356 people (27.3%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 3,631 people (8%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 17,950 people (39.7%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 45,211

📊 Unemployment Rate in Payne County, OK

Estimated Rate: 2.9%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.