Population 21,656 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in McAlester
Household size in McAlester
| Period | McAlester | Oklahoma | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.29 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.28 | 2.60 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.37 | 2.63 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.11 | +0.03 | −0.03 |
McAlester is a place of small households, averaging 2.40 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 climbed from 2.29, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the northwest and smallest in the center.
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 McAlester
| Period | McAlester | Oklahoma | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.2 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.4 | 37.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.6 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.6 | 38.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −3.6 | +0.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of McAlester is 37.6 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 41.2, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the southeast.
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 McAlester
| Period | McAlester | Oklahoma | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.3% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.8% | 12.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.2% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.9% | 12.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.4 pts | +0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in McAlester than nationally: 12.9%, against 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Oklahoma. The single-parent share is down 4.4 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 McAlester
Renters in McAlester
| Period | McAlester | Oklahoma | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.0% | 31.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 35.0% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.9% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 36.1% | 34.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +2.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than a third of households in McAlester rent their homes (36.1%), close to the national share of 34.8%. About half of owners (49.1%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northwest. 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 McAlester
| Period | McAlester | Oklahoma | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 12.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.9% | 13.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.0% | 11.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in McAlester: 15.0% 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 4.2 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 McAlester
| Period | McAlester | Oklahoma | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1976 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1977 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1979 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in McAlester run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1974 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1969 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the west.
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 McAlester
| Period | McAlester | Oklahoma | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $652 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $720 | $805 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $788 | $897 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $910 | $1,127 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$258 | +$411 | +$606 |
Rent in McAlester runs $910 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $258 a month since 2006–10, up 40%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.5% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 McAlester
Bachelor's degrees in McAlester
| Period | McAlester | Oklahoma | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.5% | 24.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.6% | 24.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.0% | 26.1% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.7% | 28.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +4.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in McAlester: 21.7% 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 4.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the northwest.
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 McAlester
| Period | McAlester | Oklahoma | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.7% | 86.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.8% | 87.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.6% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.3% | 89.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in seven adults in McAlester never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.3% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 4.6 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 McAlester
| Period | McAlester | Oklahoma | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.6% | 6.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.8% | 6.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 5.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | −1.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in McAlester than nationally: unemployment was 6.4%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has risen 2.8 points, 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).
McAlester compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAlester | 2.40 | 37.6 | 12.9% | 36.1% | 15.0% | 1974 | $910 | 21.7% | 86.3% | 6.4% |
| North McAlester | 2.16 | 40.5 | 10.2% | 54.6% | 18.0% | 1975 | $782 | 15.1% | 88.3% | 13.7% |
| Krebs | 2.26 | 39.6 | 22.8% | 42.1% | 12.6% | 1974 | $847 | 15.0% | 91.0% | 4.3% |
| Alderson | 2.40 | 50.2 | 7.4% | 13.4% | 10.4% | 1992 | $1,176 | 19.3% | 92.5% | 5.1% |
| Richville | 2.42 | 44.3 | 7.8% | 13.0% | 16.4% | 1986 | $865 | 23.5% | 93.9% | 4.9% |
| Savanna | 2.48 | 50.2 | 8.7% | 17.4% | 14.5% | 1986 | $700 | 20.7% | 90.9% | 8.0% |
| Bache | 2.50 | 47.6 | 9.2% | 11.8% | 14.2% | 1989 | $1,090 | 18.2% | 94.1% | 5.1% |
| Dow | 2.60 | 36.4 | 10.1% | 18.6% | 23.2% | 1981 | $749 | 13.0% | 91.7% | 5.4% |
| Haywood | 2.49 | 42.2 | 5.7% | 13.0% | 13.2% | 1983 | $859 | 16.1% | 91.9% | 3.1% |
| Arpelar | 2.35 | 45.5 | 5.1% | 14.2% | 14.6% | 1980 | $842 | 20.2% | 87.3% | 2.6% |
| Scipio | 2.39 | 46.6 | 5.9% | 14.1% | 16.0% | 1980 | $869 | 25.4% | 85.9% | 2.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Clarks Summit, PA · Sun Valley, NV · Stanford, CA · South St. Paul, MN · South Milwaukee, WI · South Miami, FL · East Peoria, IL · Covington, WA · Cleveland, GA · Swartz Creek, MI
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 McAlester. 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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