City · Oklahoma
Cherokee, Oklahoma
Cherokee, city, in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma. Cherokee had 1,439 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,476 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,509 (±226). GEOID 4013750.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,439
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,476 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,509 ±226
Median household income
$58,860
±$9,969 (90% margin)
Oklahoma: $65,039
Median home value
$96,600
±$20,381 (90% margin)
Oklahoma: $199,800
Median gross rent
$824
±$81 (90% margin)
Oklahoma: $1,014
Where is Cherokee and what county is it in?
Cherokee is a city in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma. It covers 2.0 square miles of land, 723 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Cherokee, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,439 people lived in Cherokee on July 1, 2025, down 2.0% since 2020, while Oklahoma grew 4.1%. The 2020 Census counted 1,476 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,509 (±226).
| Measure | Cherokee | Alfalfa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,509 ±226 | 5,696 | no clear change |
| Households | 683 ±100 | 1,938 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.17 ±0.18 | 2.30 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 897 ±83 | 2,466 | no clear change |
Cherokee's population since 2000
From 1,630 in 2000 to 1,439 in 2025: down 11.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Cherokee as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Cherokee?
The median resident of Cherokee is 43.6 years old; 21.3% are under 18 and 21.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 86.5%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 6.8%.
| Measure | Cherokee | Alfalfa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 ±4.4 | 44.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.3% ±5.0 pts | 18.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.0% ±3.6 pts | 20.5% | – |
| Male | 53.1% ±3.0 pts | 64.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.5% ±3.5 pts | 6.2% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 86.5% ±4.4 pts | 80.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.6 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.8% ±4.4 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.8% ±1.5 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.7% ±3.6 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.4% ±3.8 pts | 9.2% | – |
| With a disability | 17.0% ±4.0 pts | 17.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 9.0% ±3.7 pts | 10.5% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.1% ±3.3 pts | 85.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 30.3% ±7.8 pts | 20.1% | +11.5 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.3% ±3.5 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.4% ±4.4 pts | 85.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.1% ±1.5 pts | 2.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Cherokee earn?
Half of Cherokee's 683 households earn less than $58,860 a year (±$9,969), against $64,615 in Alfalfa County and $65,039 in Oklahoma. In 2015-2019 it was $54,804 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 22.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Cherokee | Alfalfa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $58,860 ±$9,969 | $64,615 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $77,000 ±$9,402 | $81,845 | – |
| Per capita income | $34,517 ±$4,336 | $30,402 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 22.2% ±9.6 pts | 16.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 46.8% ±24.1 pts | 28.8% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 12.4% ±5.1 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.9% ±2.4 pts | 94.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.1% ±2.6 pts | 87.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Cherokee?
Owners occupy 71.0% of Cherokee's occupied homes and renters 29.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $96,600 by its owner (±$20,381). The median renter pays $824 a month including utilities, and 34.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Cherokee | Alfalfa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $96,600 ±$20,381 | $101,500 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $824 ±$81 | $705 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 34.1% ±15.9 pts | 29.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $883 ±$156 | $1,133 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 71.0% ±7.5 pts | 77.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 29.0% ±7.5 pts | 22.5% | – |
| Housing units | 897 ±83 | 2,466 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 6.0% ±5.5 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 14.3% ±13.6 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 86.5% ±4.2 pts | 86.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 7.5% ±4.6 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±2.7 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.6% ±2.7 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 37.3% ±7.0 pts | 33.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.5% ±2.5 pts | 1.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Cherokee building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Cherokee in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 3.8 across Oklahoma.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Cherokee work and get to work?
85.2% of Cherokee's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 21.8 minutes.
| Measure | Cherokee | Alfalfa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.6% ±5.0 pts | 44.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.1% ±4.3 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 85.2% ±5.6 pts | 82.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.4% ±3.8 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±3.6 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 1.6% ±1.9 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.5% ±3.2 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.8 min ±4.8 | 22.1 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Cherokee?
No census tract lies mostly in Cherokee; 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9557Alfalfa County | 1,346 | $62,250 |
| Tract 9556Alfalfa County | 1,387 | $56,841 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Cherokee) · Census block assignment files
How does Cherokee compare with other places in Oklahoma?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Cherokee is the 8,884th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 164th-most populous of 591 in Oklahoma.
Cherokee ranks 85th of 228 places in Oklahoma with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 164th | 591 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 179th | 212 |
| Residents per square mile | 114th | 229 |
| Median household income | 85th | 228 |
| Per capita income | 50th | 229 |
| Median home value | 185th | 228 |
| Median gross rent | 127th | 223 |
| Poverty rate | 70th | 218 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35th | 226 |
| Median age | 24th | 229 |
| Owner-occupied share | 77th | 229 |
| Travel time to work | 119th | 229 |
Cherokee's figures with every place in Oklahoma (CSV)
Every place in Oklahoma, sortable · Compare Cherokee with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Cherokee?
16 of the 57 figures for Cherokee on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Cherokee are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Cherokee.