Bernice, Oklahoma Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 396, Bernice's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Bernice is a small community located in Oklahoma, within Delaware County. The total population is 396. It ranks as the 408th most populous out of 834 Census-designated places in Oklahoma.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bernice is 57.8 years. This is 56% higher than the state median of 37.0 years. 15.9% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bernice is $40,833. This is 37% lower than the state median of $65,039. It is also 49% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.3%. This is 71% higher than the state poverty rate of 15.3%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $116,700. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $199,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Bernice is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 89.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 36% higher than the state average of 65.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Bernice is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 12.7%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 2.4%.

Education

12.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 55% lower than the state rate of 28.3%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 80.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Bernice, Oklahoma is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Oklahoma state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 834 Census-designated places in Oklahoma. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.