The Town FilesWelch, Oklahoma
Town in Craig County · population 622 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $113,300
- Household income
- $35,813
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 44.1
Welch is a town of 622 people in Craig County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $113,300, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500).
How Welch 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 Welch is worth $113,300, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $35,813, which is more affordable than 14% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $554 a month. 66.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Welch | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $113,300 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | $554 | $830 |
| Median household income | $35,813 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 66.1% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Welch
| People | Welch | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.4% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.9% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.4% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 2.4% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.0% | 86.0% |
Weather in Welch
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 23.3°F. About 46.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.8 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Welch since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 10, 2008 about 8.8 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 216 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 24, 2025.
Severe weather in Craig County since 1996
Craig County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 30, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4776: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4530: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Craig County
Craig County had 4,998 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,540 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Welch itself the ACS puts it at 11%.
Public schools in Welch
3 public schools with 294 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WELCH ES | PK-5 | 139 | 13.9 |
| WELCH HS | 9-12 | 99 | 9.9 |
| WELCH MS | 6-8 | 56 | 14.0 |
Towns near Welch
- Chetopa, KS11.3 mi · 929 people · home $71,900
- Miami, OK12.4 mi · 12,969 people · home $107,600
- Commerce, OK13.5 mi · 2,271 people · home $72,600
- Afton, OK14.4 mi · 734 people · home $86,200
- Vinita, OK16.0 mi · 5,193 people · home $96,200
- Fairland, OK16.1 mi · 1,106 people · home $90,200
- Quapaw, OK17.8 mi · 811 people · home $72,200
- Oswego, KS20.3 mi · 1,668 people · home $82,700
Welch questions
Is Welch, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Welch scores better for retirees than 41% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 66%. 24.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.1).
How much does a house cost in Welch?
The median owner-occupied home in Welch is valued at $113,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $35,813, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $554 a month.
What is the weather like in Welch?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 23.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.0 inches of precipitation a year and 8.8 inches of snow.
Does Welch get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Welch since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 10, 2008. 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)