Elk City: Economy & Jobs
Median household income in Elk City is $51,272 (about the same as Beckham County median $53,328; 1.3× below Oklahoma median $65,039), with homes at a median value of $150,400. The surrounding county supports 9,947 jobs (avg $54,143).
- $61,083 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income (vs Oklahoma $74,344).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $51,272 — below the Oklahoma median ($62,125). Poverty rate 22.8% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 38% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 2.9× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 19.9% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 38.4% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 22.8% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 2.6% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $8,180 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $499,659 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $61,083 (vs Oklahoma $74,344) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $56,406 |
| Median Household Income | $51,272 (vs Oklahoma $62,125) |
| Poverty Rate | 22.8% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $51,272 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 4.8% — above the U.S. average of ~4%. 2% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 14.00 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 1.7% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | live-work community |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 9,947 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $538,540,583 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $54,143 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 1,664,310 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% (vs Oklahoma 3.1%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 17 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 115,013 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 6,765.50 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Crop Totals, Cattle, Cotton, Field Crops, Other |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 698 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 6,881 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 322,406 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 5 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 13 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 7 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · New Car Dealers | 5 |
| Local Businesses · Florists | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Beauty Salons | 4 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 19 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 20 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 3 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 4 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (7)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | HOMELAND 170 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 22 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | ELK CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $129,989,835 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 5,800.53 (vs Oklahoma $7,371) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 22,410 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 79.3% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 0.9% |
| Pct Walked | 1.7% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 36.4 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 33.4% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Factors | strong SS base, hospital access |
| Retirement Score · Rating | fair |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12