Welling: Demographics & People
About 720 people live in Welling, in 259 households. Population shrank 5.8% from 764 (2022) to 720 (2024). Median age 42.2 years. (4.9y older than Cherokee County; 7.0y older than Oklahoma). Children under 18 are 28% of the population. Population is 41% White (non-Hispanic) and 3% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.14). 77% of households are family-led. County is gaining 1,238 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 44% adult obesity, 22% smoke.
- 2.8 people per household (vs Oklahoma avg 2.6).
- 23% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Oklahoma 39%).
- 74 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Oklahoma 67).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 5.8% from 764 (2022) to 720 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~679 (extrapolated at -2.9%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 626.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 47,078 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -5.8% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 764 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 720 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 720 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Population Estimate | 626 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 42.2y is 3.3 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 28% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 42.2 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 27.5% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 720 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 198 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 116.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 298.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 108 |
| Population under 18 | 198 |
| Median age | 42.2 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 720 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.14 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 429 |
|---|---|
| Asian residents | 10 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 25 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 14.2% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 92.5% |
| Asian population | 1.5% (vs Oklahoma 3.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 3.1% (vs Oklahoma 12.3%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 41.4% (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 (6)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 524 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 185 |
| Share born in this state | 72.8% |
| Share born in another state | 27.2% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 25.7% |
| Naturalized citizens | 1.5% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 11 |
| From Africa | 11 |
Households & Family Composition
259 households. Averaging 2.8 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 77% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 201 families, 40% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 200 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 201 |
| Married couples with children | 80 |
| Average household size | 2.83 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 10.2% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 4 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 4 |
| Family households | 200 households (vs Oklahoma 16,590) |
| Households that are families | 77.2% (vs Oklahoma 61.1%) |
| Total households | 259 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. 6.2% 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) | 6.2% |
|---|---|
| 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 | 56 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 8.5% |
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. 20 residents live in group quarters (2.8% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 20 |
|---|
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 | 1.50 |
| Family Score · Schools | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 27.5% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 720, shrinking, established, working-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 720 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Town Summary · County | Cherokee County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade