The Town FilesOkemah, Oklahoma
City in Okfuskee County · population 3,074 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $79,300
- Household income
- $32,386
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 45
- Median age
- 36.5
Okemah is a city of 3,074 people in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $79,300, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks hipper than 94% of Oklahoma towns, more walkable than 77% of Oklahoma towns.
How Okemah 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 Okemah is worth $79,300, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $32,386, which is more affordable than 54% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $726 a month. 40.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Okemah | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $79,300 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | $726 | $830 |
| Median household income | $32,386 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 40.7% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Okemah
| People | Okemah | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.9% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 38.6% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 17.8 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.3% | 86.0% |
Weather in Okemah
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 30.3°F. About 43.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.0 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 75 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 50 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Okemah since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 17, 1981 about 8.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 33 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 71 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 15, 2022.
Severe weather in Okfuskee County since 1996
Okfuskee County has been included in 40 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 |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Okfuskee County
Okfuskee County had 2,497 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,478 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Okemah itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in Okemah
5 public schools with 906 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| OAKES ES | PK-3 | 256 | 14.2 |
| OKEMAH HS | 9-12 | 224 | 13.2 |
| OKEMAH MS | 6-8 | 168 | 15.3 |
| BEARDEN PUBLIC SCHOOL | PK-8 | 143 | 14.3 |
| OKEMAH NOBLE CTR | 4-5 | 115 | 14.4 |
Towns near Okemah
- Henryetta, OK17.7 mi · 5,640 people · home $88,600
- Wewoka, OK22.6 mi · 3,133 people · home $63,300
- Okmulgee, OK23.7 mi · 11,322 people · home $98,400
- Seminole, OK23.8 mi · 7,146 people · home $103,600
- Holdenville, OK24.6 mi · 5,934 people · home $91,600
- Bristow, OK28.4 mi · 4,248 people · home $117,500
Okemah questions
Is Okemah, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Okemah scores better for retirees than 12% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 17%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in Okemah?
The median owner-occupied home in Okemah is valued at $79,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $32,386, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $726 a month.
What is the weather like in Okemah?
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 30.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.5 inches of precipitation a year and 5.0 inches of snow.
Does Okemah get tornadoes?
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Okemah since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 17, 1981. 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)