Population 5,696 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Alfalfa County
Household size in Alfalfa County
| Period | Alfalfa County | Oklahoma | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.24 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.26 | 2.60 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.56 | 2.63 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.33 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.09 | +0.03 | −0.03 |
Alfalfa County is a place of small households, averaging 2.33 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.24, even as the national average fell. Of Oklahoma's 77 counties, only four have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Alfalfa County
| Period | Alfalfa County | Oklahoma | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.6 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.3 | 37.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.0 | 38.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.6 | +0.6 | +2.3 |
Alfalfa County skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.0, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has dropped from 46.6 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Of Oklahoma's 77 counties, only four are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Alfalfa County
| Period | Alfalfa County | Oklahoma | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 12.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.8% | 12.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.8% of households in Alfalfa County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 0.5 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Only three of Oklahoma's 77 counties have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Alfalfa County
Renters in Alfalfa County
| Period | Alfalfa County | Oklahoma | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.4% | 31.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.7% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.8% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.5% | 34.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +2.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 22.5% of households in Alfalfa County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About two-thirds of owners (65.5%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.1 points, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Alfalfa County
| Period | Alfalfa County | Oklahoma | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.7% | 12.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 30.6% | 13.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.0% | 11.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Alfalfa County: 20.0% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has fallen 6.4 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Alfalfa County
| Period | Alfalfa County | Oklahoma | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1955 | 1976 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1951 | 1977 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1959 | 1979 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1958 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +7 | +6 |
Alfalfa County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1958, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the center. Alfalfa County has the oldest homes of any Oklahoma county.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Alfalfa County
| Period | Alfalfa County | Oklahoma | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $570 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $575 | $805 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $658 | $897 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $660 | $1,127 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$91 | +$411 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Alfalfa County costs $660 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $91 a month since 2006–10, up 16%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 22.1% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the east; the highest are in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Alfalfa County
Bachelor's degrees in Alfalfa County
| Period | Alfalfa County | Oklahoma | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.7% | 24.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.4% | 24.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.5% | 26.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.6% | 28.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +4.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Alfalfa County: 20.6% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 1.9 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the southwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Alfalfa County
| Period | Alfalfa County | Oklahoma | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.0% | 86.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.1% | 87.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.7% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.1% | 89.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Alfalfa County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 3.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Alfalfa County
| Period | Alfalfa County | Oklahoma | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.0% | 6.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.6% | 6.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.0% | 5.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | −1.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Alfalfa County runs below the national rate: 3.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is up 0.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Alfalfa County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfalfa County | 2.33 | 45.0 | 6.8% | 22.5% | 20.0% | 1958 | $660 | 20.6% | 86.1% | 3.7% |
| Woods County | 2.11 | 34.9 | 10.0% | 34.7% | 14.9% | 1960 | $791 | 32.1% | 89.9% | 4.9% |
| Grant County | 2.52 | 43.6 | 9.0% | 23.7% | 25.1% | 1967 | $830 | 23.3% | 91.5% | 4.1% |
| Kay County | 2.57 | 38.8 | 13.2% | 30.8% | 19.3% | 1963 | $920 | 18.8% | 90.2% | 5.6% |
| Harper County | 2.36 | 41.5 | 3.6% | 16.4% | 22.1% | 1965 | $855 | 29.7% | 88.5% | 2.8% |
| Washington County | 2.53 | 39.6 | 12.9% | 28.1% | 11.1% | 1973 | $1,099 | 30.4% | 92.7% | 4.4% |
| Nowata County | 2.55 | 41.8 | 10.7% | 26.5% | 15.1% | 1977 | $870 | 16.5% | 91.4% | 4.4% |
| Texas County | 3.09 | 34.0 | 16.5% | 33.6% | 17.7% | 1975 | $844 | 20.7% | 76.2% | 3.6% |
| Craig County | 2.53 | 40.4 | 11.5% | 26.3% | 18.4% | 1974 | $844 | 15.7% | 86.2% | 4.9% |
| McDonald County | 2.83 | 39.3 | 10.1% | 32.7% | 13.2% | 1987 | $796 | 12.3% | 82.0% | 7.4% |
| Cimarron County | 3.13 | 47.7 | 5.6% | 21.6% | 48.1% | 1963 | $653 | 30.4% | 86.7% | 0.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Liberty County, FL · Ontonagon County, MI · Pamlico County, NC · Pecos County, TX · Mackinac County, MI · Treasure County, MT · Lincoln County, ID · Deer Lodge County, MT · Trinity County, TX · Brewster County, TX
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Alfalfa County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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