Veteran's Day parade, Ponca City, Oklahoma · Reservoirhill at English Wikipedia / Public domainCyclone at Ponca City, Okla. LCCN91786006 · Miscellaneous Items in High Demand, PPOC, Library of Congress / Public domainThe Marland Mansion · Reservoirhill at en.wikipedia / Public domainPoncan Theatre · BeccaDawn88 / CC BY-SA 3.0
Ponca City is a small city of 24,441 in Oklahoma, with a median household income of $51,367
and a 6.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Ponca City 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 Ponca City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Ponca City 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: 89.4
Ponca City's overall cost of living index is 89.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Ponca City costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Ponca City, OK
National Avg
Median Home Value
$118,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$782
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
61.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,367
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Ponca City's violent crime rate is 576.5 per 100,000 residents
— 52% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
576.5 /100k
Property Crime
2503.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Ponca City is served primarily by PONCA CITY.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.5:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Ponca City, OK
National Avg
School District
PONCA CITY
—
Elementary Schools
7
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Ponca City sees average highs of 47.2°F in January
and 93.3°F in July,
with 33.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 7.9 inches of snow per year.
Ponca City's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Ponca City roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $118,900 and median rent is $782/month.
Ponca City's violent crime rate is 576.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2503.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Ponca City are operated by PONCA CITY.
The district has 7 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.5:1. 19.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Ponca City, OK has a population of 24,441, a median household income of $51,367, and an unemployment rate of 6.7%.
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.
Ponca City averages 47.2°F in January and 93.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.6 inches
with about 7.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Ponca City, OK is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 74601, 74604.
The population of Ponca City, Oklahoma is 24,441 with a median age of 37.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Ponca City: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $118,900, median household income $51,367, crime index 139 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ponca City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
