Ripley, Oklahoma Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 259, Ripley'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

Ripley is a small community located in Oklahoma, within Payne County. The total population is 259. It ranks as the 504th most populous out of 834 Census-designated places in Oklahoma.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ripley is 49.1 years. This is 33% higher than the state median of 37.0 years. 11.2% 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 Ripley is $41,250. This is 37% 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 18.5%. This is 21% higher than the state poverty rate of 15.3%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 7% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $81,700. Housing costs are 59% lower than the state median of $199,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Ripley is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 65.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Ripley has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.7%. The Black or African American population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.

Education

7.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 75% 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 89.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ripley, 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.