The Town FilesVelma, Oklahoma
Town in Stephens County · population 554 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $111,500
- Household income
- $87,674
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 41.8
Velma is a town of 554 people in Stephens County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $111,500, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks better for families than 91% of Oklahoma towns, better for retirees than 89% of Oklahoma towns, quieter than 87% of Oklahoma towns.
How Velma 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 Velma is worth $111,500, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $87,674, which is more affordable than 97% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $888 a month. 74.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Velma | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,500 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | $888 | $830 |
| Median household income | $87,674 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 74.3% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Velma
| People | Velma | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.8% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.1% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.7% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 10.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.4% | 86.0% |
Weather in Velma
July highs average 93.5°F and January lows 28.4°F. About 37.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.4 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Velma since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 19, 1972 about 8.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 19 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 3, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 74 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 6, 1974.
Severe weather in Stephens County since 1996
Stephens County has been included in 35 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 |
| March 15, 2025 | Fire | FM-5564: Wildhorse Fire |
| July 19, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4721: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| February 24, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4587: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 17, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3555: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Stephens County
Stephens County had 15,058 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,784 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Velma itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Velma
3 public schools with 482 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| VELMA-ALMA ES | PK-5 | 224 | 16.0 |
| VELMA-ALMA HS | 9-12 | 152 | 16.9 |
| VELMA-ALMA MS | 6-8 | 106 | 17.7 |
Towns near Velma
- Bray, OK13.7 mi · 952 people · home $166,700
- Sunray, OK16.9 mi · 853 people · home $87,800
- Duncan, OK17.0 mi · 22,692 people · home $131,500
- Healdton, OK18.5 mi · 2,328 people · home $66,400
- Comanche, OK19.1 mi · 1,378 people · home $78,100
- Elmore City, OK19.5 mi · 738 people · home $84,100
- Ringling, OK19.7 mi · 869 people · home $74,800
- Marlow, OK20.6 mi · 4,385 people · home $136,300
Velma questions
Is Velma, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Velma scores better for retirees than 89% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 87%. 15.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in Velma?
The median owner-occupied home in Velma is valued at $111,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,674, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $888 a month.
What is the weather like in Velma?
July highs average 93.5°F and January lows 28.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.1 inches of precipitation a year and 1.4 inches of snow.
Does Velma get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Velma since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 19, 1972. 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)