Payne County, Oklahoma Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Payne County is located in Oklahoma with a total population of 82,290. It is the 8th most populous county out of 77 in Oklahoma.

Age Demographics

The median age in Payne County is 27.7 years. This is 25% lower than the state median of 36.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Payne County is $48,937. This is 23% lower than the state median of $63,603. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 38% lower. The poverty rate stands at 23.9%. This is 56% 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 4.5%. This is 9% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $217,700. Housing costs are 17% higher than the state median of $185,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.4x. 50.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% lower than the state average of 65.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Payne County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 74.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.4%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (4.0% vs 2.3%).

Education

40.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Payne County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 44% 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 93.2%. Notably, 18.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.