The Town Files

El Reno, Oklahoma

City in Canadian County · population 16,989 (2020 Census)

Map: where El Reno is in OklahomaEl Reno
Median home
$165,900
Household income
$56,219
Jan low / Jul high
25° / 94°
Snow a year
4 in
Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
57
Median age
34.8

El Reno is a city of 16,989 people in Canadian County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $165,900, above the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks more walkable than 97% of Oklahoma towns, more vibrant than 92% of Oklahoma towns, more of a college town than 91% of Oklahoma towns.

How El Reno 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.

El Reno lifestyle rankings vs other Oklahoma townsRetirement13th pctFamilies28th pctQuiet6th pctWalkability97th pctFirst-time buyers82nd pctYoung professionals85th pctVibrancy92nd pctHip & trendy89th pctCollege town91st pctUpscale54th pctVacation homesbottomSeaside characterbottomCyclingbottomTransitbottomDriving49th pcttypical
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025).

Homes and cost of living

The median home in El Reno is worth $165,900, above the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $56,219, which is more affordable than 20% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $968 a month. 60.2% of households own their home.

El Reno vs Canadian County vs typical Oklahoma townEl RenoCanadian CountyTypical Oklahoma townHome value$165,900$246,200$122,500Household income$56,219$87,751$54,111Monthly rent$968$1,289$830
Census ACS 5-year estimates, 2020–2024. "Typical town" = median of Oklahoma towns with 500+ people.
HousingEl RenoTypical Oklahoma town
Median home value$165,900$122,500
Median rent$968$830
Median household income$56,219$54,111
Home value ÷ income3.0×2.4×
Homeownership60.2%68.5%
Median year built19681976
Seasonal / vacation homes0.1%—

Who lives in El Reno

PeopleEl RenoTypical Oklahoma town
Median age34.837.1
Age 65 and over13.6%16.5%
Under 1823.1%—
Bachelor's degree or higher16.3%16.3%
Below the poverty line19.3%18.8%
Veterans5.6%—
Born outside the U.S.7.3%—
Work from home6.4%5.7%
Average commute22.1 min22.9 min
Homes with broadband85.7%86.0%

Weather in El Reno

July highs average 93.5°F and January lows 25.2°F. About 34.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.6 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 75 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 76 nights at or below freezing.

El Reno monthly temperatures and precipitation20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32° freezing49°25°Jan53°28°Feb62°36°Mar71°46°Apr79°57°May88°66°Jun94°70°Jul92°68°Aug84°60°Sep73°48°Oct60°36°Nov50°28°DecPrecipitation (in) · snow (in) in blue0.91.81.20.42.43.15.25.63.23.33.03.02.10.31.51.1
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals: average daily high and low by month; precipitation and snowfall in inches. Temperatures from the El Reno 1 N station (0.6 mi away).

Tornadoes, storms and disasters

57 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of El Reno since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 15 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on May 24, 2011 about 3.4 miles from the town center and killed 7. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 19 deaths and 172 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 22, 2026.

Tornadoes within 10 miles of El Reno by decade61950s51960s71970s41980s111990s92000s112010s42020s
NOAA Storm Events Database, tornado tracks (start to end point) passing within 10 miles of the town center, 1950–2026.

Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 110 times; the largest was 7.00 inches on April 30, 1961.

Severe weather in Canadian County since 1996

Storm events in Canadian County since 1996 by typeHail444Heat55Drought98Tornado63High Wind29Ice Storm13Heavy Snow18Flash Flood49
NOAA Storm Events Database, Canadian County, 1996–2026 (all event types recorded since 1996). 25 deaths recorded.

Canadian County has been included in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
August 13, 2026FireFM-5669: Train Trestle Fire
February 24, 2021Severe Ice StormDR-4587: Severe Winter Storms
February 17, 2021Severe Ice StormEM-3555: Severe Winter Storm
December 21, 2020Severe Ice StormDR-4575: Severe Winter Storm
April 5, 2020BiologicalDR-4530: Covid-19 Pandemic

Jobs and pay in Canadian County

Canadian County had 39,390 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,576 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in El Reno itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.

Largest industries in Canadian CountyHotels & restaurants5,396 jobs · $20,240Retail5,129 jobs · $33,554Manufacturing4,095 jobs · $58,245Health care & social assistan…3,735 jobs · $46,503Construction2,031 jobs · $57,014Administrative & support1,719 jobs · $48,036
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024, private-sector jobs and average annual pay.
Unemployment rate in Canadian County, 2000–20230%2%4%6%2000200420082012201620202023Canadian 2.7%
Annual average unemployment rate (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics via USDA ERS).

Public schools in El Reno

9 public schools with 3,688 students, about 17.2 students per teacher.

SchoolGradesStudentsPer teacher
EL RENO HS9-121,04918.1
ETTA DALE JHS7-842517.7
LINCOLN LEARNING CTR3-441518.9
LESLIE F ROBLYER LEARNING CTR5-637915.8
ROSE WITCHER ES1-236115.0
BANNER PUBLIC SCHOOLPK-831915.2
HILLCREST ESPK-K31114.1
DARLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLPK-825521.3
RIVERSIDE PUBLIC SCHOOLPK-817424.9

Towns near El Reno

El Reno questions

Is El Reno, Oklahoma a good place to retire?

On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, El Reno scores better for retirees than 13% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 6%. 13.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.8).

How much does a house cost in El Reno?

The median owner-occupied home in El Reno is valued at $165,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,219, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $968 a month.

What is the weather like in El Reno?

July highs average 93.5°F and January lows 25.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.5 inches of precipitation a year and 3.6 inches of snow.

Does El Reno get tornadoes?

57 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of El Reno since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF5 on May 24, 2011. The typical Oklahoma town has had 33.

How this page is made. Every number comes from public data, matched to El Reno's Census boundary (GEOID 4023700). Comparisons use the median of Oklahoma towns with at least 500 people. Weather comes from the nearest NOAA normals station; storm counts use NOAA tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center. Data snapshot 2026-11-12.