The Town FilesPoteau, Oklahoma
City in Le Flore County · population 8,807 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,400
- Household income
- $50,511
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 36.0
Poteau is a city of 8,807 people in Le Flore County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $157,400, above the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks more vibrant than 85% of Oklahoma towns, more walkable than 82% of Oklahoma towns.
How Poteau 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 Poteau is worth $157,400, above the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $50,511, which is more affordable than 17% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $853 a month. 62.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Poteau | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,400 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | $853 | $830 |
| Median household income | $50,511 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 62.3% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Poteau
| People | Poteau | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 27.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.4% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.8% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.9% | 86.0% |
Weather in Poteau
July highs average 94.1°F and January lows 29.6°F. About 47.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.0 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 78 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 63 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Poteau since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 5, 1961 about 8.4 miles from the town center and killed 16. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 16 deaths and 74 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 19, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 87 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 3, 1983.
Severe weather in Le Flore County since 1996
Le Flore County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| June 1, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4438: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Le Flore County
Le Flore County had 11,691 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,224 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Poteau itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Poteau
5 public schools with 2,187 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| POTEAU HS | 9-12 | 693 | 17.8 |
| POTEAU UPPER ES | 2-4 | 452 | 13.7 |
| POTEAU PRIMARY ES | PK-1 | 437 | 15.1 |
| 7TH AND 8TH GRADE ACADEMIC CTR | 7-8 | 317 | 15.9 |
| PANSY KIDD MS | 5-6 | 288 | 15.2 |
Towns near Poteau
- Heavener, OK12.1 mi · 2,985 people · home $59,200
- Pocola, OK15.1 mi · 4,255 people · home $151,100
- Greenwood, AR23.2 mi · 9,516 people · home $182,900
- Muldrow, OK23.3 mi · 3,272 people · home $114,300
- Fort Smith, AR23.7 mi · 89,142 people · home $178,100
- Roland, OK24.6 mi · 3,316 people · home $139,800
- Barling, AR26.3 mi · 4,782 people · home $140,000
- Sallisaw, OK29.4 mi · 8,510 people · home $134,100
Poteau questions
Is Poteau, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Poteau scores better for retirees than 7% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 13%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.0).
How much does a house cost in Poteau?
The median owner-occupied home in Poteau is valued at $157,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,511, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $853 a month.
What is the weather like in Poteau?
July highs average 94.1°F and January lows 29.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.3 inches of precipitation a year and 1.0 inches of snow.
Does Poteau get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Poteau since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 5, 1961. 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)