Skip to main content

Panama: Economy & Jobs

Panama's typical household earns $47,136 (1.1× below Le Flore County median $51,565; 1.4× below Oklahoma median $65,039), with homes at a median value of $124,800. The surrounding county supports 11,691 jobs (avg $42,224).

Income & Affordability

Median household income $47,136 — below the Oklahoma median ($62,125). Poverty rate 29.0% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 54% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).

Affordability · Home Price To Income2.6×
Affordability · Home Affordabilityaffordable
Affordability · Rent Pct Income21.2%
Affordability · Rent Affordabilityaffordable
Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened53.8%
Affordability · Poverty Rate29.0%
Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income1.4%
Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed$18,450
Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands)$927,688
Irs Income · Average AGI per return$50,281 (vs Oklahoma $74,344)
Irs Income · Year2022
Income Estimate$51,835
Median Household Income$47,136 (vs Oklahoma $62,125) median_household_income: 2 observations from 2026-04-23 to 2026-04-23
Poverty Rate29.0%

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 · Workforcemixed
Economic Character · Top IndustryRetail
Economic Character · Income Levelworking-class
Economic Character · Median Income$47,136

Employment & Workforce

Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 3.5% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 8% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).

Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min26.20
Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct7.8%
Commuter Profile · Profilemoderate commute
Employment · Avg annual employment (county)11,691
Employment · Total annual wages (county)$493,651,754
Employment · Average annual pay$42,224
Employment · Year2024
State Occupation Wages · Year2023
State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code00-0000
State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · TitleAll Occupations
State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment1,664,310
Unemployment Rate3.5% (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 Farms68
Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres368,815
Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres5,423.80
Agriculture · Top CommoditiesAnimal Totals, Poultry Totals, Cattle, Hogs, Crop Totals
Agriculture · Year2022
Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count)802
Business Patterns · Total Employees6,652
Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands222,230
Business Patterns · Year2022

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 · Grocery Stores3
Local Businesses · Convenience Stores7
Local Businesses · Liquor Stores5
Local Businesses · Gas Stations20
Local Businesses · General Merchandise21
Local Businesses · Clothing Stores3
Local Businesses · Used Car Dealers6
Local Businesses · Auto Repair10

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 Restaurants18
Dining Scene · Fast Food16
Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks6

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 (1)

The First National Bank of Fort Smith
PANAMA BRANCH · 202 North Kentucky Avenue · 74951

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 (3)

Dollar General 6881
Other · 411 S KENTUCKY AVE
Dhat Dher Beef Jerky
Specialty Store · 305 North Kentucky Ave
Casey's 4562
Convenience Store · 1217 N Kentucky Ave
Nearest Snap · NameDollar General 6881
Nearest Snap · Total In Area3

Sources: USDA SNAP API — state+city name match

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 · NameINOLA 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$428,550,064
Federal Spending · Per Capita8,904.20 (vs Oklahoma $7,371)
Federal Spending · Population48,129 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420)

Sources: USAspending API

Other

Pct Drove Alone84.4%
Pct Public Transit0.9%
Pct Walked7.8%
Retirement Score · Median age31.5 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y)
Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct27.7%
Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby1
Retirement Score · Va AccessYes
Retirement Score · Factorshospital access, VA nearby
Retirement Score · Ratingfair

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12