Downtown McAlester · Jeremy Wagg / Public domainOklahomaStatePen (retouched) · Charles Duggar Derivative work MagentaGreen / CC BY-SA 2.0McAlesterLibraryOK · Michael Allen from St. Louis, Missouri, USA / CC BY 2.0
McAlester is a small city of 18,110 in Oklahoma, with a median household income of $46,875
and a 8.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
McAlester stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether McAlester is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All McAlester city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 90.4
McAlester's overall cost of living index is 90.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in McAlester costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
McAlester, OK
National Avg
Median Home Value
$126,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$850
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
59.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$46,875
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
McAlester's violent crime rate is 369.5 per 100,000 residents
— 3% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
369.5 /100k
Property Crime
2371.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
McAlester is served primarily by MCALESTER.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
McAlester, OK
National Avg
School District
MCALESTER
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
83.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
McAlester sees average highs of 52.0°F in January
and 93.2°F in July,
with 49.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.6 inches of snow per year.
McAlester's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes McAlester roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $126,300 and median rent is $850/month.
McAlester's violent crime rate is 369.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2371.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in McAlester are operated by MCALESTER.
The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1. 19.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
McAlester, OK has a population of 18,110, a median household income of $46,875, and an unemployment rate of 8.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
McAlester averages 52.0°F in January and 93.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.5 inches
with about 1.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
McAlester, OK is covered by 1 ZIP code: 74501.
The population of McAlester, Oklahoma is 18,110 with a median age of 36.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in McAlester: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $126,300, median household income $46,875, crime index 104 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare McAlester side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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