Byars, Oklahoma Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 209, Byars'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

Byars is a small community located in Oklahoma, within McClain County. The total population is 209. It ranks as the 540th most populous out of 834 Census-designated places in Oklahoma.

Age Demographics

The median age in Byars is 65.6 years. This is 77% higher than the state median of 37.0 years. Only 12.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 12.4% 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 Byars is $41,500. This is 36% 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 45.7%. This is 198% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Byars, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $90,600. Housing costs are 55% lower than the state median of $199,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Byars is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 98.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 49% higher than the state average of 65.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Byars is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.3% of the population. Asian residents account for 2.4%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.

Education

3.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 88% 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 88.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Byars, 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.