The Town FilesBristow, Oklahoma
City in Creek County · population 4,248 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $117,500
- Household income
- $38,906
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 33.9
Bristow is a city of 4,248 people in Creek County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $117,500, close to the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks better for cycling than 82% of Oklahoma towns, better transit than 79% of Oklahoma towns, better for first-time buyers than 76% of Oklahoma towns.
How Bristow ranks
Percentile among Oklahoma towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oklahoma towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bristow is worth $117,500, close to the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $38,906, which is more affordable than 20% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $623 a month. 43.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bristow | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $117,500 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | $623 | $830 |
| Median household income | $38,906 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 43.8% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Bristow
| People | Bristow | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.9 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.3% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.1% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.7% | 86.0% |
Weather in Bristow
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 26.1°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.7 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 69 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 78 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bristow since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 5, 1960 about 7.2 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 102 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 6, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 82 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on November 19, 2025.
Severe weather in Creek County since 1996
Creek County has been included in 47 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Fire | DR-4866: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| March 15, 2025 | Fire | FM-5566: Underwood Fire |
| March 14, 2025 | Fire | FM-5560: Little Salt Creek Fire |
| October 30, 2024 | Fire | FM-5543: Euchee Creek Fire |
| July 19, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4721: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Creek County
Creek County had 21,450 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,527 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Bristow itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Bristow
4 public schools with 1,682 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRISTOW HS | 9-12 | 504 | 18.0 |
| EDISON ES | PK-2 | 486 | 16.8 |
| COLLINS ES | 3-5 | 353 | 16.8 |
| BRISTOW MS | 6-8 | 339 | 13.0 |
Towns near Bristow
- Stroud, OK15.0 mi · 2,719 people · home $125,000
- Drumright, OK15.7 mi · 2,560 people · home $85,600
- Sapulpa, OK19.2 mi · 21,929 people · home $171,600
- Mannford, OK21.0 mi · 3,262 people · home $165,300
- Cushing, OK22.9 mi · 8,327 people · home $114,500
- Glenpool, OK23.1 mi · 13,691 people · home $201,700
- Sand Springs, OK25.6 mi · 19,874 people · home $197,700
- Chandler, OK26.1 mi · 2,858 people · home $110,600
Bristow questions
Is Bristow, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bristow scores better for retirees than 44% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 45%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.9).
How much does a house cost in Bristow?
The median owner-occupied home in Bristow is valued at $117,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,906, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $623 a month.
What is the weather like in Bristow?
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 26.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 6.7 inches of snow.
Does Bristow get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bristow since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 5, 1960. The typical Oklahoma town has had 33.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)