The Town FilesCommerce, Oklahoma
City in Ottawa County · population 2,271 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $72,600
- Household income
- $34,817
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 41
- Median age
- 32.1
Commerce is a city of 2,271 people in Ottawa County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $72,600, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks more walkable than 87% of Oklahoma towns, hipper than 75% of Oklahoma towns, easier by car than 75% of Oklahoma towns.
How Commerce 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 Commerce is worth $72,600, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $34,817, which is more affordable than 69% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $692 a month. 63.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Commerce | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $72,600 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | $692 | $830 |
| Median household income | $34,817 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 63.7% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Commerce
| People | Commerce | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.1 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 29.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.3% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 35.1% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.1% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 15.9 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.3% | 86.0% |
Weather in Commerce
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 23.3°F. About 46.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.4 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Commerce since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 10, 2008 about 2.1 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 245 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 92 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 26, 1991.
Severe weather in Ottawa County since 1996
Ottawa County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 30, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4776: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 24, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4587: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 17, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3555: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4530: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3462: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Ottawa County
Ottawa County had 12,934 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,301 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Commerce itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Commerce
3 public schools with 892 students, about 16.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALEXANDER ES | PK-5 | 468 | 18.7 |
| COMMERCE HS | 9-12 | 244 | 14.4 |
| COMMERCE MS | 6-8 | 180 | 16.4 |
Towns near Commerce
- Miami, OK3.3 mi · 12,969 people · home $107,600
- Quapaw, OK4.3 mi · 811 people · home $72,200
- Baxter Springs, KS9.1 mi · 3,888 people · home $92,900
- Fairland, OK12.7 mi · 1,106 people · home $90,200
- Riverton, KS12.8 mi · 771 people · home $144,000
- Welch, OK13.5 mi · 622 people · home $113,300
- Chetopa, KS14.6 mi · 929 people · home $71,900
- Seneca, MO15.3 mi · 2,230 people · home $132,600
Commerce questions
Is Commerce, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Commerce scores better for retirees than 2% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 20%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.1).
How much does a house cost in Commerce?
The median owner-occupied home in Commerce is valued at $72,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,817, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $692 a month.
What is the weather like in Commerce?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 23.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.0 inches of precipitation a year and 7.4 inches of snow.
Does Commerce get tornadoes?
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Commerce since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 10, 2008. 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)