Fairfax: Economy & Jobs
Median household income in Fairfax is $40,000 (1.6× below Osage County median $62,847; 1.6× below Oklahoma median $65,039), with homes at a median value of $59,300. The surrounding county supports 7,666 jobs (avg $50,858).
- $64,022 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income (vs Oklahoma $74,344).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $40,000 — below the Oklahoma median ($62,125). Poverty rate 24.7% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 30% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 1.5× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 17.1% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 29.8% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 24.7% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 1.0% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $18,790 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $1,202,980 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $64,022 (vs Oklahoma $74,344) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $44,512 |
| Median Household Income | $40,000 (vs Oklahoma $62,125) |
| Poverty Rate | 24.7% |
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 | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | working-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $40,000 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 7.6% — above the U.S. average of ~4%. 2% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 25.50 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 2.4% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | moderate commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 7,666 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $389,860,470 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $50,858 |
| 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 | 7.6% (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 | 1,236 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 1,013,654 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 820.10 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Cattle, Crop Totals, Grain, Field Crops, Other |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 621 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 5,563 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 252,393 |
| 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 · Liquor Stores | 3 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 16 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 12 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Grooming | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Funeral Homes | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Real Estate Offices | 9 |
| Local Businesses · Commercial Banks | 11 |
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 | 13 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 19 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 3 |
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 (3)
| Nearest Snap · Name | DOLLAR GENERAL 7821 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 3 |
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 | $337,711,862 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 7,370.72 (at Oklahoma median) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 45,818 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 86.7% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 1.3% |
| Pct Walked | 2.4% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 47.1 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 44.1% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 2 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | excellent |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12