Alva: Economy & Jobs
Earnings in Alva center on a median $40,709 (1.3× below Woods County median $53,275; 1.6× below Oklahoma median $65,039), with homes at a median value of $133,600. The surrounding county supports 3,324 jobs (avg $48,725).
- $67,853 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income (vs Oklahoma $74,344).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $40,709 — below the Oklahoma median ($62,125). Poverty rate 25.9% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 57% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 3.3× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 24.3% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 56.8% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 25.9% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 2.1% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $3,410 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $231,378 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $67,853 (vs Oklahoma $74,344) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $47,549 |
| Median Household Income | $40,709 (vs Oklahoma $62,125) |
| Poverty Rate | 25.9% |
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 | $40,709 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 3.3% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 1% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 1.1% |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Primary Mode | drove alone |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 3,324 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $161,952,316 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $48,725 |
| 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 | 3.3% (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 | 24 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 82,077 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 3,419.90 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Cattle, Crop Totals, Grain, Wheat |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 249 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 2,175 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 90,970 |
| 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 · Gas Stations | 4 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 5 |
| Local Businesses · Commercial Banks | 7 |
| Local Businesses · Insurance Agencies | 9 |
| Local Businesses · Law Offices | 5 |
| Local Businesses · Dental Offices | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Optometrists | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Child Day Care | 4 |
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 | 8 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 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 (4)
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 | Walmart 178 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 7 |
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 | ALVA 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 | $51,124,374 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 5,928.15 (vs Oklahoma $7,371) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 8,624 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Job Training · Total count | 1 |
|---|---|
| Pct Drove Alone | 75.6% |
| Pct Public Transit | 11.1% |
| Pct Walked | 1.1% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 28.3 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 22.7% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Factors | hospital access |
| Retirement Score · Rating | limited |
Sources: IRS BMF keyword search · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12