Watonga: Economy & Jobs
Earnings in Watonga center on a median $54,081 (1.1× below Blaine County median $61,642; 1.2× below Oklahoma median $65,039), with homes at a median value of $89,700. The surrounding county supports 2,973 jobs (avg $50,359).
- $71,057 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income (vs Oklahoma $74,344).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $54,081 — below the Oklahoma median ($62,125). Poverty rate 19.2% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 43% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 1.7× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 18.4% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 42.6% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 19.2% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 1.1% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $3,700 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $262,912 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $71,057 (vs Oklahoma $74,344) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $57,847 |
| Median Household Income | $54,081 (vs Oklahoma $62,125) |
| Poverty Rate | 19.2% |
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 | blue_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Professional |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $54,081 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 6.8% — above the U.S. average of ~4%. 1% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 17.80 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 0.9% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 2,973 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $149,709,120 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $50,359 |
| 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 | 6.8% (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 | 242 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 480,054 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 1,983.70 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Cattle, Crop Totals, Grain, Wheat |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 232 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 2,526 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 132,791 |
| 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 · Gas Stations | 6 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 8 |
| Local Businesses · Commercial Banks | 7 |
| Local Businesses · Insurance Agencies | 5 |
| Local Businesses · Full Service Restaurants | 10 |
| Local Businesses · Fast Food | 5 |
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 | 10 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 5 |
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 (2)
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 | Dollar General 3300 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 7 |
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 | INOLA AREA 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 | $63,285,412 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 7,245.04 (vs Oklahoma $7,371) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 8,735 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 82.4% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 0.2% |
| Pct Walked | 0.9% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 40.7 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 35.2% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 2 |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, strong SS base, hospital access |
| Retirement Score · Rating | good |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12