Cherokee County, Oklahoma Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Cherokee County is located in Oklahoma with a total population of 47,621. It is the 18th most populous county out of 77 in Oklahoma.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cherokee County is 37.3 years. This is 1% higher than the state median of 36.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cherokee County is $53,668. This is 16% lower than the state median of $63,603. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 32% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.3%. This is 26% higher than the state poverty rate of 15.3%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $160,300. Housing costs are 14% lower than the state median of $185,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 65.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cherokee County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 45.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.7%. The Black or African American population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 6.9%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 2.3%.

Education

29.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 6% higher than the state rate of 27.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.9%.