The Town FilesCherokee, Oklahoma
City in Alfalfa County · population 1,476 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $96,600
- Household income
- $58,860
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 43.6
Cherokee is a city of 1,476 people in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $96,600, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks better for retirees than 92% of Oklahoma towns, more upscale than 89% of Oklahoma towns, better for families than 85% of Oklahoma towns.
How Cherokee 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 Cherokee is worth $96,600, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $58,860, which is more affordable than 90% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $824 a month. 71.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cherokee | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $96,600 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | $824 | $830 |
| Median household income | $58,860 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 71.0% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1949 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.5% | — |
Who lives in Cherokee
| People | Cherokee | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.0% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.3% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.2% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 21.8 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 86.0% |
Weather in Cherokee
July highs average 96.4°F and January lows 21.3°F. About 31.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.2 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 87 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 105 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cherokee since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 2, 1956 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 30, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 80 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on September 22, 1985.
Severe weather in Alfalfa County since 1996
Alfalfa County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 24, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4587: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 17, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3555: Severe Winter Storm |
| December 21, 2020 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4575: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4530: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3462: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Alfalfa County
Alfalfa County had 1,202 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,949 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Cherokee itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Cherokee
3 public schools with 379 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEROKEE ES | PK-5 | 189 | 11.8 |
| CHEROKEE HS | 9-12 | 101 | 12.6 |
| CHEROKEE MS | 6-8 | 89 | 14.8 |
Towns near Cherokee
- Helena, OK14.9 mi · 1,537 people · home $66,700
- Alva, OK17.2 mi · 5,028 people · home $133,600
- Kiowa, KS19.7 mi · 902 people · home $69,100
- Lahoma, OK29.1 mi · 539 people · home $94,600
Cherokee questions
Is Cherokee, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cherokee scores better for retirees than 92% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 83%. 21.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.6).
How much does a house cost in Cherokee?
The median owner-occupied home in Cherokee is valued at $96,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,860, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $824 a month.
What is the weather like in Cherokee?
July highs average 96.4°F and January lows 21.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.3 inches of precipitation a year and 11.2 inches of snow.
Does Cherokee get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cherokee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 2, 1956. 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)