Ponca City: Demographics & People
24,326 people call Ponca City home, in 9,371 households. Population shrank 0.2% from 24,377 (2022) to 24,326 (2024). Median age 37.1 years. (1.4y younger than Kay County; 1.9y older than Oklahoma). Children under 18 are 26% of the population. Population is 68% White (non-Hispanic) and 10% Hispanic or Latino. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.29). 62% of households are family-led. County is losing 415 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 44% adult obesity, 18% smoke.
- 2.6 people per household (vs Oklahoma avg 2.6).
- 38% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Oklahoma 39%).
- 76 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Oklahoma 67).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.2% from 24,377 (2022) to 24,326 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~24,274 (extrapolated at -0.1%/yr trend).
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 43,700 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.2% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 24,377 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 24,326 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 24,326 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Population Estimate | 24,206 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 37.1y is 1.8 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 | 37.1 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 25.6% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 24,326 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 6,220 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 5,299.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 8,495.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 4,312 |
| Population under 18 | 6,220 |
| Median age | 37.1 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 24,326 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.29 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 17,197 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 847 |
| Asian residents | 199 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 2,404 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 29.1% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 83.3% |
| Asian population | 0.7% (vs Oklahoma 3.2%) |
| Black population | 2.9% (vs Oklahoma 5.5%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 10.4% (vs Oklahoma 12.3%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 67.8% (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). 1.0% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 4% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 15,292 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 7,950 |
| Share born in this state | 62.9% |
| Share born in another state | 37.1% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 32.7% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.0% |
| Naturalized citizens | 3.5% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 668 |
| From Europe | 144 |
| From Asia | 28 |
| From Africa | 117 |
Households & Family Composition
9,371 households. Averaging 2.5 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 62% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 5,734 families, 28% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 6,120 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 5,734 |
| Married couples with children | 1,598 |
| Single-parent households | 346 |
| Average household size | 2.54 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 19.2% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 409 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 146 |
| Family households | 5,801 households (vs Oklahoma 16,590) |
| Households that are families | 61.9% (vs Oklahoma 61.1%) |
| Total households | 9,371 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. 16.7% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 415 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 16.7% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 37,141 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 37,556 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -415 |
| 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 | 2,555 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 10.7% |
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. 619 residents live in group quarters (2.5% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 619 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 3 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 40071 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 40 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 071 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Kay |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 37.4% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 32.80 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 42.50 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 40071 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Kay County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,827 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 40071 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Kay County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 54.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 45.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 47.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 43,538 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 13 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 8 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 25.6% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 24,326, stable, family-oriented, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 24,326 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Town Summary · County | Kay County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade