McIntosh County, Oklahoma Demographics 2026

Population Overview

McIntosh County is located in Oklahoma with a total population of 19,237. It is the 42nd most populous county out of 77 in Oklahoma. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in McIntosh County is 47.3 years. This is 28% higher than the state median of 36.9 years. 10.7% 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 McIntosh County is $46,203. This is 27% lower than the state median of $63,603. It is also 41% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 20.9%. This is 36% 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 14% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $135,800. Housing costs are 27% lower than the state median of $185,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, McIntosh County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 65.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in McIntosh County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 66.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.0%. The Black or African American population (2.8%) is well below the state average of 6.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.0%) is well below the state average of 12.3%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 2.3%.

Education

14.4% 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 48% lower 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 86.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for McIntosh County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Oklahoma and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.