McAlester: Demographics & People
McAlester is home to 18,111 people, in 7,200 households. Population grew 0.1% from 18,098 (2022) to 18,111 (2024). Median age 35.6 years. (5.0y younger than Pittsburg County). Children under 18 are 24% of the population. Population is 64% White (non-Hispanic) and 7% Hispanic or Latino. 59% of households are family-led. County is gaining 822 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 41% adult obesity, 21% smoke.
- 2.5 people per household (vs Oklahoma avg 2.6).
- 41% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Oklahoma 39%).
- 65 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Oklahoma 67).
Population & Trend
Population grew 0.1% from 18,098 (2022) to 18,111 (2024) — close to the U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~18,123 (extrapolated at 0.0%/yr trend).
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 43,773 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 0.1% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 18,098 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 18,111 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 18,111 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Population Estimate | 18,140 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 35.6y is 3.3 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 24% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 35.6 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 23.7% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 18,111 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 4,289 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 4,575.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 6,391.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 2,856 |
| Population under 18 | 4,289 |
| Median age | 35.6 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 18,111 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| White residents | 12,132 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 853 |
| Asian residents | 110 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 1,377 |
| Diversity Index · Simpson Index | 50.3% |
| Diversity Index · Interpretation | moderately diverse |
| Asian population | 0.7% (vs Oklahoma 3.2%) |
| Black population | 4.9% (vs Oklahoma 5.5%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 7.4% (vs Oklahoma 12.3%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 63.8% (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). 0.4% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 2% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 11,838 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 5,846 |
| Share born in this state | 65.4% |
| Share born in another state | 34.6% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 32.3% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.4% |
| Naturalized citizens | 2.0% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 465 |
| From Europe | 45 |
| From Africa | 51 |
Households & Family Composition
7,200 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 59% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 4,213 families, 30% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 4,183 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 4,213 |
| Married couples with children | 1,278 |
| Single-parent households | 152 |
| Average household size | 2.24 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 16.9% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 335 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 123 |
| Family households | 4,217 households (vs Oklahoma 16,590) |
| Households that are families | 58.6% (vs Oklahoma 61.1%) |
| Total households | 7,200 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. 18.8% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 822 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 18.8% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 36,504 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 35,682 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 822 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| 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 | 1,706 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 10.5% |
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. 2,034 residents live in group quarters (11.2% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 2,034 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 2 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 40121 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 40 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 121 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Pittsburg |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 36.6% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 31.70 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 42.10 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 40121 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Pittsburg County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 2,247 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 40121 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Pittsburg County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 56.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 47.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 43.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 43,654 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 9.40 |
| Family Score · Schools | 11 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 8 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 23.7% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 18,111, stable, family-oriented, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 18,111 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Town Summary · County | Pittsburg County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade