The Town FilesSentinel, Oklahoma
Town in Washita County · population 763 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $108,000
- Household income
- $120,227
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 41.3
Sentinel is a town of 763 people in Washita County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $108,000, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of Oklahoma towns, more of a college town than 96% of Oklahoma towns, more upscale than 91% of Oklahoma towns.
- #1 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Oklahoma
- #7 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Oklahoma With Mild Winters
- #12 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Oklahoma
- #14 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Oklahoma
- #50 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #50 in The 50 Best Affordable Places to Retire in America With Mild Winters
How Sentinel 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 Sentinel is worth $108,000, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 0.9 times the median household income of $120,227, which is more affordable than 100% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $744 a month. 82.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sentinel | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $108,000 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | $744 | $830 |
| Median household income | $120,227 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 0.9× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 82.6% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sentinel
| People | Sentinel | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.8% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.3% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.7% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.6% | — |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.7% | 86.0% |
Weather in Sentinel
July highs average 94.2°F and January lows 27.5°F. About 23.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.1 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 90 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 75 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sentinel since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 25, 1962 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 18, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 91 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on March 30, 2008.
Severe weather in Washita County since 1996
Washita County has been included in 37 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 |
| December 21, 2020 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4575: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Washita County
Washita County had 1,932 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,488 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Sentinel itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Sentinel
2 public schools with 289 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCMURRAY ES | PK-8 | 203 | 14.5 |
| BLANCHE THOMAS HS | 9-12 | 86 | 10.8 |
Towns near Sentinel
- Hobart, OK10.4 mi · 3,413 people · home $71,100
- Burns Flat, OK13.7 mi · 1,948 people · home $106,600
- New Cordell, OK14.4 mi · 2,775 people · home $106,600
- Granite, OK18.0 mi · 1,628 people · home $104,600
- Elk City, OK21.6 mi · 11,561 people · home $150,400
- Mountain View, OK24.3 mi · 740 people · home $68,400
- Clinton, OK26.8 mi · 8,521 people · home $119,400
- Mangum, OK26.8 mi · 2,762 people · home $96,500
Sentinel questions
Is Sentinel, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sentinel scores better for retirees than 97% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 66%. 29.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.3).
How much does a house cost in Sentinel?
The median owner-occupied home in Sentinel is valued at $108,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $120,227, so homes cost about 0.9 times income. Median rent is $744 a month.
What is the weather like in Sentinel?
July highs average 94.2°F and January lows 27.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 23.9 inches of precipitation a year and 5.1 inches of snow.
Does Sentinel get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sentinel since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 25, 1962. 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)