The Town FilesMcAlester, Oklahoma
City in Pittsburg County · population 18,171 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,600
- Household income
- $51,930
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 35.6
McAlester is a city of 18,171 people in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $151,600, above the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks more walkable than 98% of Oklahoma towns, hipper than 96% of Oklahoma towns, more vibrant than 88% of Oklahoma towns.
How McAlester 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 McAlester is worth $151,600, above the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $51,930, which is more affordable than 24% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $915 a month. 58.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | McAlester | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,600 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | $915 | $830 |
| Median household income | $51,930 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 58.5% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in McAlester
| People | McAlester | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.8% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.0% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.7% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 16.3 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 86.0% |
Weather in McAlester
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 30.2°F. About 42.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.6 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 73 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 66 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McAlester since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 27, 1966 about 7.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 7, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 86 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 13, 2009.
Severe weather in Pittsburg County since 1996
Pittsburg County has been included in 33 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 Pittsburg County
Pittsburg County had 14,780 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,572 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in McAlester itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Public schools in McAlester
9 public schools with 3,649 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCALESTER HS | 9-12 | 1,013 | 18.4 |
| WILL ROGERS ES | K-2 | 539 | 14.6 |
| PARKER INTERMEDIATE CTR | 5-6 | 447 | 17.9 |
| Randy Hughes Middle School | 7-8 | 413 | 14.2 |
| Puterbaugh Upper Elementary | 3-4 | 404 | 15.5 |
| FRINK-CHAMBERS PUBLIC SCHOOL | PK-8 | 404 | 15.5 |
| Karla Brock Early Childhood Academy | PK-PK | 175 | 19.4 |
| TANNEHILL PUBLIC SCHOOL | PK-8 | 132 | 13.2 |
| HAYWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL | PK-8 | 122 | 9.4 |
Towns near McAlester
- Longtown, OK26.2 mi · 2,659 people · home $184,200
- Eufaula, OK27.4 mi · 2,766 people · home $178,700
McAlester questions
Is McAlester, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McAlester scores better for retirees than 22% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 15%. 15.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.6).
How much does a house cost in McAlester?
The median owner-occupied home in McAlester is valued at $151,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,930, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $915 a month.
What is the weather like in McAlester?
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 30.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1.6 inches of snow.
Does McAlester get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McAlester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 27, 1966. 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)