The Town FilesPawhuska, Oklahoma
City in Osage County · population 2,984 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $114,200
- Household income
- $46,298
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 39.6
Pawhuska is a city of 2,984 people in Osage County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $114,200, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks more walkable than 87% of Oklahoma towns, more vibrant than 78% of Oklahoma towns, hipper than 71% of Oklahoma towns.
How Pawhuska 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 Pawhuska is worth $114,200, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $46,298, which is more affordable than 47% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $554 a month. 63.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pawhuska | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $114,200 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | $554 | $830 |
| Median household income | $46,298 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 63.3% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Pawhuska
| People | Pawhuska | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.2% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.1% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 18.3 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.0% | 86.0% |
Weather in Pawhuska
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 24.8°F. About 45.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.2 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 61 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 90 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pawhuska since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 26, 1991 about 6.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 26, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 66 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 8, 2026.
Severe weather in Osage County since 1996
Osage County has been included in 43 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4950: Severe Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| February 19, 2026 | Fire | FM-5621: Rattlesnake Fire |
| October 30, 2024 | Fire | FM-5544: North Road Fire |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Osage County
Osage County had 7,666 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,858 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Pawhuska itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Pawhuska
4 public schools with 704 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAWHUSKA HS | 9-12 | 206 | 13.7 |
| INDIAN CAMP ES | PK-2 | 185 | 15.4 |
| PAWHUSKA MS | 6-8 | 157 | 17.4 |
| PAWHUSKA ES | 3-5 | 156 | 15.6 |
Towns near Pawhuska
- Hominy, OK17.4 mi · 3,329 people · home $82,200
- Bartlesville, OK21.7 mi · 37,290 people · home $167,200
- Dewey, OK23.6 mi · 3,372 people · home $119,000
- Cleveland, OK26.0 mi · 3,205 people · home $117,800
Pawhuska questions
Is Pawhuska, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pawhuska scores better for retirees than 58% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 65%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.6).
How much does a house cost in Pawhuska?
The median owner-occupied home in Pawhuska is valued at $114,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,298, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $554 a month.
What is the weather like in Pawhuska?
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 24.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 7.2 inches of snow.
Does Pawhuska get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pawhuska since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 26, 1991. 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)