Altus: Demographics & People
About 18,646 people live in Altus, in 7,291 households. Population shrank 0.1% from 18,670 (2022) to 18,646 (2024). Median age 33.7 years. (1.4y younger than Jackson County; 1.5y younger than Oklahoma). Children under 18 are 26% of the population. Population is 57% White (non-Hispanic) and 28% Hispanic or Latino. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.51). 62% of households are family-led. County is losing 809 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 43% adult obesity, 17% smoke.
- 2.6 people per household (vs Oklahoma avg 2.6).
- 38% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Oklahoma 39%).
- 65 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Oklahoma 67).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.1% from 18,670 (2022) to 18,646 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~18,621 (extrapolated at -0.1%/yr trend).
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 24,785 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.1% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 18,670 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 18,646 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 18,646 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Population Estimate | 18,589 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 33.7y is 5.2 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 26% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 33.7 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 25.6% |
| Age Summary · Character | young professional |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 18,646 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 4,769 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 4,976.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 6,326.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 2,575 |
| Population under 18 | 4,769 |
| Median age | 33.7 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 18,646 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.51 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 12,837 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 1,557 |
| Asian residents | 370 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 5,138 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 51.1% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 64.5% |
| Asian population | 2.2% (vs Oklahoma 3.2%) |
| Black population | 7.2% (vs Oklahoma 5.5%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 27.8% (vs Oklahoma 12.3%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 57.2% (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 (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 1.5% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 7% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 8,563 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 8,420 |
| Share born in this state | 45.9% |
| Share born in another state | 54.1% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 45.2% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.5% |
| Naturalized citizens | 7.4% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 1,148 |
| From Europe | 102 |
| From Africa | 174 |
Households & Family Composition
7,291 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 62% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 4,511 families, 30% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 4,724 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 4,511 |
| Married couples with children | 1,348 |
| Single-parent households | 186 |
| Average household size | 2.43 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 16.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 408 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 131 |
| Family households | 4,499 households (vs Oklahoma 16,590) |
| Households that are families | 61.7% (at Oklahoma median) |
| Total households | 7,291 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. 18.3% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 809 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 18.3% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 23,656 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 24,465 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -809 |
| 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 | 1,284 |
|---|---|
| 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. 798 residents live in group quarters (4.3% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 798 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 3 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 40065 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 40 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 065 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Jackson |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 39.9% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 33.60 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 47.00 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 40065 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Jackson County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 859 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 40065 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Jackson County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 65.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 56.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 40.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 24,530 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 7.50 |
| Family Score · Schools | 10 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 5 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 25.6% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 18,646, stable, young professional, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 18,646 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Town Summary · County | Jackson County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade