Stillwater, Oklahoma Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Stillwater, Oklahoma had a total population of 49,269, the 10th largest city in Oklahoma, with a median household income of $43,700, which is 33% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 27.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 33% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (27.4%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- 49.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Oklahoma.
Stillwater Quick Facts
How Stillwater Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 48,818 | 49,269 | +0.9% |
| Median household income | $42,015 | $43,700 | +4.0% |
| Median home value | $230,900 | $237,200 | +2.7% |
How Stillwater Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Stillwater Rankings in Oklahoma
Explore Oklahoma Rankings
Other Cities in Payne County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cushing | 8,367 | $44,136 | 22.0% | $114,500 |
| Perkins | 3,262 | $35,456 | 32.0% | $172,200 |
| Drumright | 2,361 | $45,580 | 24.7% | $85,600 |
| Yale | 998 | $42,750 | 27.7% | $82,400 |
| Glencoe | 516 | $49,821 | 31.2% | $90,600 |
| Ripley | 259 | $41,250 | 18.5% | $81,700 |
| Mulhall | 257 | $76,250 | 9.3% | $93,400 |
| Ingalls | 229 | $68,750 | 16.2% | N/A |
| Orlando | 106 | $46,250 | 13.2% | $65,000 |
| Mehan | 22 | N/A | 13.6% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Stillwater
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enid | 50,653 | $62,125 | $154,900 | 23.1% | 13.7% |
| Midwest City | 58,297 | $57,520 | $164,500 | 23.8% | 16.5% |
| Muskogee | 36,758 | $50,213 | $146,100 | 18.7% | 24.1% |
| Bartlesville | 37,878 | $58,869 | $167,200 | 33.3% | 17.2% |
| Owasso | 40,151 | $79,036 | $243,100 | 34.6% | 7.3% |
Population Overview
Stillwater is a mid-sized community located in Oklahoma, within Payne County. The total population is 49,269. It ranks as the 10th most populous out of 834 Census-designated places in Oklahoma.
Age Demographics
The median age in Stillwater is 23.9 years. This is 35% lower than the state median of 37.0 years. Only 14.2% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Stillwater is $43,700. This is 33% lower than the state median of $65,039. It is also 46% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 27.4%. This is 78% 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 6.4%. This is 29% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $237,200. Housing costs are 19% higher than the state median of $199,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.4x. 37.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 44% lower than the state average of 65.8%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Stillwater is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.4% of the population. Asian residents account for 6.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.9%) is well below the state average of 12.7%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (6.3% vs 2.4%).
Education
49.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Stillwater in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 76% higher 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 96.0%. Notably, 24.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Stillwater, 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.
Free data download: Get all Oklahoma city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Stillwater, Oklahoma?
Stillwater, Oklahoma has a population of 49,269 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Stillwater, OK?
The median household income in Stillwater is $43,700, which is 46% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Stillwater, OK?
The poverty rate in Stillwater is 27.4%. This means approximately 11,042 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Stillwater, Oklahoma?
Stillwater's population is 71.4% White, 4.5% Black, 5.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 6.3% Asian.
What is the median home value in Stillwater, OK?
The median home value in Stillwater is $237,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.4x.
How educated is Stillwater, Oklahoma?
49.9% of adults (25+) in Stillwater hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 24.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.