The Town FilesEmpire City, Oklahoma
Town in Stephens County · population 703 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $193,200
- Household income
- $96,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 37
- Median age
- 46.3
Empire City is a town of 703 people in Stephens County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $193,200, above the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks better for families than 82% of Oklahoma towns, more upscale than 74% of Oklahoma towns.
How Empire City 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 Empire City is worth $193,200, above the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $96,250, which is more affordable than 75% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $1,125 a month. 93.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Empire City | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $193,200 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | $1,125 | $830 |
| Median household income | $96,250 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 93.8% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Empire City
| People | Empire City | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.7% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.1% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.8% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 2.1% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 31.0 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.5% | 86.0% |
Weather in Empire City
July highs average 93.5°F and January lows 28.4°F. About 37.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.3 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Empire City since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 10, 1979 about 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 215 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on October 20, 1996.
Severe weather in Stephens County since 1996
Stephens County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 18, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4862: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 15, 2025 | Fire | FM-5564: Wildhorse Fire |
| July 19, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4721: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| February 24, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4587: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 17, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3555: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Stephens County
Stephens County had 15,058 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,784 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Empire City itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Towns near Empire City
- Duncan, OK5.6 mi · 22,692 people · home $131,500
- Sunray, OK7.6 mi · 853 people · home $87,800
- Comanche, OK9.2 mi · 1,378 people · home $78,100
- Central High, OK9.6 mi · 1,181 people · home $211,200
- Marlow, OK12.1 mi · 4,385 people · home $136,300
- Bray, OK16.5 mi · 952 people · home $166,700
- Temple, OK17.4 mi · 862 people · home $51,600
- Geronimo, OK18.7 mi · 1,158 people · home $93,500
Empire City questions
Is Empire City, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Empire City scores better for retirees than 58% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 57%. 25.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.3).
How much does a house cost in Empire City?
The median owner-occupied home in Empire City is valued at $193,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,250, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $1,125 a month.
What is the weather like in Empire City?
July highs average 93.5°F and January lows 28.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.1 inches of precipitation a year and 2.3 inches of snow.
Does Empire City get tornadoes?
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Empire City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 10, 1979. 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)