Watonga: Demographics & People
Census counts 2,623 people in Watonga, in 904 households. Population shrank 0.4% from 2,633 (2022) to 2,623 (2024). Median age 40.7 years. (0.5y younger than Blaine County; 5.5y older than Oklahoma). Children under 18 are 23% of the population. Population is 56% White (non-Hispanic) and 16% Hispanic or Latino. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.50). 62% of households are family-led. County is losing 118 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 44% adult obesity, 20% smoke.
- 2.9 people per household (vs Oklahoma avg 2.6).
- 38% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Oklahoma 39%).
- 57 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Oklahoma 67).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.4% from 2,633 (2022) to 2,623 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~2,613 (extrapolated at -0.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 2,599.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 8,735 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.4% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 2,633 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 2,623 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 2,623 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Population Estimate | 2,599 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 40.7y is 1.8 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 23% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 40.7 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 23.3% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 2,623 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 612 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 538.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 1,133.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 340 |
| Population under 18 | 612 |
| Median age | 40.7 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 2,623 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.50 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 1,676 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 333 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 504 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 49.7% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 66.7% |
| Black population | 10.5% (vs Oklahoma 5.5%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 16.2% (vs Oklahoma 12.3%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 56.2% (vs Oklahoma 57.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (7)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.2% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 5% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 1,763 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 734 |
| Share born in this state | 67.2% |
| Share born in another state | 32.8% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 28.0% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.2% |
| Naturalized citizens | 4.7% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 443 |
| From Europe | 8 |
Households & Family Composition
904 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 62% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 475 families, 35% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 532 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 475 |
| Married couples with children | 167 |
| Single-parent households | 35 |
| Average household size | 2.30 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 18.5% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 70 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 10 |
| Family households | 563 households (vs Oklahoma 16,590) |
| Households that are families | 62.3% (vs Oklahoma 61.1%) |
| Total households | 904 households (vs Oklahoma 23,671) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 17.4% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 118 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 17.4% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 7,673 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 7,791 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -118 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 119 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 7.4% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 459 residents live in group quarters (17.5% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 459 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 3 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 40011 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 40 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 011 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Blaine |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 35.1% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 26.80 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 45.10 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 40011 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Blaine County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 340 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 40011 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Blaine County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 56.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 48.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 45.5% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 9,429 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.40 |
| Family Score · Schools | 3 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 3 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 23.3% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 2,623, stable, established, middle-class, blue collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 2,623 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Town Summary · County | Blaine County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade