Median Income
$49,444
household / year
Median Home Value
$163,300
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$783
gross / month
Cost of Living
91
national avg = 100

Is Tahlequah, OK a Good Place to Live?

Tahlequah is a small city of 16,389 in Oklahoma, with a median household income of $49,444 and a 7.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Tahlequah stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Tahlequah is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Tahlequah 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: 91.0

Tahlequah's overall cost of living index is 91.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Tahlequah costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric Tahlequah, OK National Avg
Median Home Value $163,300 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $783 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 42.5% 65.9%
Median Household Income $49,444 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Tahlequah's violent crime rate is 182.0 per 100,000 residents — 52% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
182.0 /100k
Property Crime
2295.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Tahlequah is served primarily by TAHLEQUAH. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.3:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Tahlequah, OK National Avg
School District TAHLEQUAH
Elementary Schools 3
Middle Schools 1
High Schools 1
Student/Teacher Ratio 16.3:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 35.9% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 88.3% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Tahlequah sees average highs of 51.4°F in January and 93.0°F in July, with 51.0 inches of annual precipitation and 4.3 inches of snow per year.

MetricTahlequah, OK
Average High — January51.4°F
Average High — July93.0°F
Annual Precipitation51.0"
Annual Snowfall4.3"

Demographics

MetricTahlequah, OKNational Avg
Population16,389
Median Age30.538.9
Unemployment Rate7.1%3.7%
Avg Commute Time19.3 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)48.6%59.3%
Black or African American2.3%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino4.4%18.9%
Asian1.1%6.3%
Under 1819.7%22.2%
65 and over15.3%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Tahlequah vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Tahlequah's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Tahlequah roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $163,300 and median rent is $783/month.
Tahlequah's violent crime rate is 182.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2295.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Tahlequah are operated by TAHLEQUAH. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.3:1. 35.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Tahlequah, OK has a population of 16,389, a median household income of $49,444, and an unemployment rate of 7.1%. 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.
Tahlequah averages 51.4°F in January and 93.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.0 inches with about 4.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Tahlequah, Oklahoma is 16,389 with a median age of 30.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Tahlequah: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $163,300, median household income $49,444, crime index 72 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Tahlequah side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.