Tahlequah: Demographics & People
About 16,935 people live in Tahlequah, in 6,795 households. Population grew 2.6% from 16,513 (2022) to 16,935 (2024). Median age 29.3 years. (8.0y younger than Cherokee County; 5.9y younger than Oklahoma). Children under 18 are 20% of the population. Population is 45% White (non-Hispanic) and 10% Hispanic or Latino. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.36). 52% of households are family-led. County is gaining 1,238 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 44% adult obesity, 22% smoke.
- 2.5 people per household (vs Oklahoma avg 2.6).
- 48% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Oklahoma 39%).
- 56 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Oklahoma 67).
Population & Trend
Population grew 2.6% from 16,513 (2022) to 16,935 (2024) — about 4.3× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~17,371 (extrapolated at 1.3%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 17,964.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 47,078 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 2.6% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 16,513 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 16,935 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 16,935 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Population Estimate | 17,964 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 29.3y is 9.6 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 20% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 29.3 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 20.0% |
| Age Summary · Character | young community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 16,935 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 3,388 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 6,071.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 4,779.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 2,697 |
| Population under 18 | 3,388 |
| Median age | 29.3 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 16,935 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.36 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 7,485 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 385 |
| Asian residents | 155 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 1,539 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 36.0% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 78.3% |
| Asian population | 0.8% (vs Oklahoma 3.2%) |
| Black population | 2.4% (vs Oklahoma 5.5%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 9.8% (vs Oklahoma 12.3%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 45.4% (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 (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.5% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 4% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 11,050 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 5,134 |
| Share born in this state | 65.2% |
| Share born in another state | 34.8% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 30.3% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.5% |
| Naturalized citizens | 4.0% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 557 |
| From Europe | 63 |
| From Africa | 83 |
| From Latin America | 10 |
Households & Family Composition
6,795 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 52% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 3,454 families, 26% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 3,274 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 3,454 |
| Married couples with children | 882 |
| Single-parent households | 109 |
| Average household size | 2.26 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 12.9% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 414 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 143 |
| Family households | 3,529 households (vs Oklahoma 16,590) |
| Households that are families | 51.9% (vs Oklahoma 61.1%) |
| Total households | 6,795 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. 23.4% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 1,238 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 23.4% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 39,416 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 38,178 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 1,238 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| 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 | 1,552 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 9.7% |
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. 1,490 residents live in group quarters (8.8% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 1,490 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 2 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 40021 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 40 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 021 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Cherokee |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 23.7% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 20.50 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 27.30 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 40021 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Cherokee County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,975 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 40021 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Cherokee County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 69.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 51.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 42.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 48,657 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 11 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 14 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 20.0% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 16,935, growing, young community, working-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 16,935 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Town Summary · County | Cherokee County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade