Wister: Economy & Jobs
Median household income in Wister is $36,607 (1.4× below Le Flore County median $51,565; 1.8× below Oklahoma median $65,039), with homes at a median value of $106,500. The surrounding county supports 11,691 jobs (avg $42,224).
- $50,281 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income (vs Oklahoma $74,344).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $36,607 — below the Oklahoma median ($62,125). Poverty rate 25.3% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 34% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 2.9× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 26.6% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 33.7% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 25.3% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 1.8% |
| 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 · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $40,629 |
| Median Household Income | $36,607 (vs Oklahoma $62,125) |
| Poverty Rate | 25.3% |
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 · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Retail |
| Economic Character · Income Level | working-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $36,607 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 2.0% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 2% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 32.90 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 2.1% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | moderate commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 11,691 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $493,651,754 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $42,224 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 1,664,310 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.0% (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 Farms | 68 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 368,815 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 5,423.80 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Poultry Totals, Cattle, Hogs, Crop Totals |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 802 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 6,652 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 222,230 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
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 Stores | 3 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 7 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 5 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 20 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 21 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Used Car Dealers | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 10 |
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 Restaurants | 18 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 16 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 6 |
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)
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 (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | DOLLAR GENERAL 10636 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 6 |
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 · Name | INOLA 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 Capita | 8,904.20 (vs Oklahoma $7,371) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 48,129 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 86.8% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 2.4% |
| Pct Walked | 2.1% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 35.9 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 33.0% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | good |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12