Keys, Oklahoma Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 982, Keys'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

Keys is a small community located in Oklahoma, within Cherokee County. The total population is 982. It ranks as the 240th most populous out of 834 Census-designated places in Oklahoma.

Age Demographics

The median age in Keys is 35.9 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 37.0 years. 12.2% 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 Keys is $38,600. This is 41% lower than the state median of $65,039. It is also 52% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 32.2%. This is 110% 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 6.6%. This is 33% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $130,200. Housing costs are 35% lower than the state median of $199,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 60.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 65.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Keys is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 12.7%.

Education

24.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 15% 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 86.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Keys, 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.