Velma, Oklahoma Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Velma, Oklahoma had a total population of 590, the 327th largest town in Oklahoma, with a median household income of $87,674, which is 35% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 22.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 35% above the state average — one of the wealthiest communities in Oklahoma.
- Only 8.1% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.3x.
Velma Quick Facts
How Velma 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 | 585 | 590 | +0.9% |
| Median household income | $61,806 | $87,674 | +41.9% |
| Median home value | $105,200 | $111,500 | +6.0% |
How Velma 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
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Velma Rankings in Oklahoma
Explore Oklahoma Rankings
Other Cities in Stephens County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duncan | 22,958 | $58,054 | 20.5% | $131,500 |
| Marlow | 4,451 | $56,655 | 21.9% | $136,300 |
| Comanche | 1,545 | $41,016 | 26.6% | $78,100 |
| Central High | 1,489 | $75,435 | 9.9% | $211,200 |
| Bray | 979 | $73,897 | 12.4% | $166,700 |
| Sunray | 854 | N/A | 19.2% | $87,800 |
| Empire City | 794 | $96,250 | 3.8% | $193,200 |
| Loco | 94 | $40,313 | 34.0% | $45,000 |
Cities Similar to Velma
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brent | 583 | $87,596 | $190,600 | 16.9% | 3.8% |
| Westport | 606 | $83,214 | $252,900 | 36.3% | 13.9% |
| Chewey | 642 | $83,313 | $125,000 | 22.1% | 40.3% |
| Lyons Switch | 569 | $70,417 | $185,800 | 23.2% | 17.8% |
| Custer City | 566 | $71,094 | $59,500 | 18.4% | 13.4% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 590, Velma'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
Velma is a small community located in Oklahoma, within Stephens County. The total population is 590. It ranks as the 327th most populous out of 834 Census-designated places in Oklahoma.
Age Demographics
The median age in Velma is 41.8 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 37.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Velma is $87,674. This is 35% higher than the state median of $65,039. It is also 9% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 22.7%. This is 48% 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 5.2%. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $111,500. Housing costs are 44% lower than the state median of $199,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.3x, Velma is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 65.8%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Velma is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.0%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 6.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 12.7%.
Education
8.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 71% 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 93.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Velma, 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 Velma, Oklahoma?
Velma, Oklahoma has a population of 590 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Velma, OK?
The median household income in Velma is $87,674, which is 9% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Velma, OK?
The poverty rate in Velma is 22.7%. This means approximately 134 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Velma, Oklahoma?
Velma's population is 80.3% White, 0.3% Black, 2.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Velma, OK?
The median home value in Velma is $111,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.3x.
How educated is Velma, Oklahoma?
8.1% of adults (25+) in Velma hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 1.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.